|   LIBRARY   | 

UNIVERSITY  Of 
CALIFORNIA 


IN  SEARCH  OF 
TREASURE 


By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR. 

Author  of  "  Mark  Manning's  Mission/' 

"  Tom  Temple's  Career,"  "  TomThatcher's  Fortune,5 

«'  Tom  Turner's  Legacy,"   Etc. 


NEW  YORK 

HURST    &  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS. 


LOAN  STACK 


Copyright  1894 
By  FRANK  A.  MUNSEY  &  COMPANY 


Copyright  1907 
By  A.  L.  BURT  COMPANY 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


In  Search  of  Treasure 

CHAPTER  I 

INTRODUCES    GUY   AND    HIS    FATHER 

"I  WISH  I  could  send  you  to  college,  Guy,"  said 
Mr.  Fenwick,  as  they  sat  in  the  library,  reading  by 
the  soft  light  of  a  student  lamp. 

The  speaker  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fenwick,  the 
pastor  of  a  church  in  Bayport,  a  few  miles  from 
New  Bedford,  Massachusetts. 

"I  don't  think  I  care  much  about  going  to  col 
lege,  father,"  said  Guy,  a  bright,  manly,  broad- 
shouldered  boy  of  sixteen. 

"When  I  was  of  your  age,  Guy,"  replied  his 
father,  "I  was  already  a  student  of  Harvard.  You 
are  ready  for  college,  but  my  means  are  not  suffi 
cient  to  send  you  there." 

"Don't  worry  about  that,  father.  There  are 
other  paths  to  success  than  through  college." 

"I  am  rather  surprised  to  hear  you  speak  so 

II    290 


2  IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

indifferently,  Guy.  At  the  academy  you  are  ac 
knowledged  to  be  the  best  Latin  and  Greek  scholar 
they  have  had  for  years." 

'That  may  be,  father." 

"It  is  so.  The  principal  so  assured  me,  and  he 
would  not  misrepresent  just  to  please  me." 

"I  am  glad  that  I  have  so  good  a  reputation." 

"With  such  qualifications  it  seems  certain  you 
would  achieve  success  in  college,  graduate  high, 
and,  in  time,  become  a  distinguished  professional 
man,  or  perhaps  professor." 

"Perhaps  I  might;  but,  father,  in  spite  of  my 
taste  for  study,  I  have  one  taste  still  stronger." 

"What  is  that?" 

"A  taste  for  adventure.  I  want  to  see  the  world, 
to  visit  strange  countries,  to  become  acquainted 
with  strange  people." 

As  the  boy  spoke  his  face  became  flushed  and 
animated. 

Mr.  Fenwick  looked  surprised. 

"Certainly,"  he  said,  "you  don't  get  this  taste 
from  me.  WThen  I  was  a  boy  I  used  to  stay  indoors 
to  read  and  study.  I  cared  nothing  for  the  sports 
and  games  that  interested  my  school  companions." 

Guy  smiled. 

"I  believe  you,  father,"  he  said.  "You  don'f 
go  out  half  enough  now.  Instead  of  shutting  your? 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE  3 

self  up  in  your  study,  you  would  be  stronger  and 
healthier  if  you  would  walk  five  miles  a  day." 

Mr.  Fenwick  slightly  shuddered. 

He  was  a  pale,  thin  man,  with  an  intellectual 
look,  but  had  the  air  of  a  scholar  and  a  recluse. 

"I  couldn't  do  it,  Guy,"  he  said.  "Even  if  I  walk 
a  mile,  I  feel  that  it  is  a  hardship.  It  is  tame  and 
monotonous.  I  don't  see  where  you  get  your  red 
cheeks  and  exuberant  spirits  from." 

"From  my  mother's  family,  I  think,  father." 

"Very  likely.  Your  mother  was  bright  and  ani 
mated  when  I  married  her,  but  she  broke  down 
under  the  manifold  duties  and  engagements  of  a 
minister's  wife." 

"That  is  true.     Poor  mother!" 

Guy  sighed,  and  his  bright  face  looked  sorrow 
ful,  for  it  was  only  a  twelvemonth  since  his  mother 
was  laid  away  in  the  little  graveyard  at  Bayport. 

"You  look  very  much  like  your  uncle  George, 
your  mother's  brother,  as  he  was  at  your  age." 

"He  became  a  sailor?" 

"Yes.  He  had  an  extraordinary  love  for  the 
sea.  If  he  had  been  content  to  live  on  land  and 
follow  some  mercantile  business,  he  would,  in  all 
probability,  be  living  to-day." 

"How  did  he  die?" 

"He  took  a  fever  at  some  infected  port,  and 


4  IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

died  on  shipboard.  The  poor  fellow  was  still  a 
comparatively  young  man,  little  more  than  thirty, 
and  it  seemed  sad  that  he  should  be  cut  off  at  such 
an  early  age." 

"Was  his  body  brought  home?" 

"No.  Sailors  are  superstitious,  and  they  don't 
like  to  sail  in  a  ship  that  has  a  dead  body  on  board. 
So  poor  George  was  sewed  up  in  a  sack,  and  com 
mitted  to  the  ocean  depths.  His  chest  was  sent  to 
us,  and  is  stored  in  the  attic." 

"Have  you  ever  opened  it?" 

"Yes,  I  opened  it,  but  didn't  examine  the  con 
tents.  Probably  there  was  nothing  except  a  sailor's 
plain  outfit.  As  to  money,  George  was  not  a  man 
to  save  anything.  He  was  extravagant  and  prodi 
gal,  like  most  of  his  class." 

"Was  he  a  common  sailor?" 

"No;  he  was  second  mate,  and  received  fair 
wages.  He  did  not  have  your  education,  but  had 
good  native  talent,  but  nothing  could  divert  him 
from  his  plan  of  going  to  sea." 

"Well,  father,  I  suppose  there  must  be  sailors. 
You  would  hardly  want  everybody  to  go  to  col- 
lege?" 

"No,  Guy." 

"Even  if  they  were  qualified." 

"Still,  I  should  not  care  to  have  my  son  a  sailor." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE  5 

"I  don't  care  to  be  one,  father,  but  I  own  I 
should  like  to  take  a  single  voyage — a  good  long 
one — so  as  to  see  a  little  of  the  world.  I  think, 
after  that,  I  should  be  more  content  to  settle  down 
to  some  business  on  shore.  By  the  way,  father, 
is  there  any  objection  to  my  examining  the  contents 
of  Uncle  George's  chest?" 

"I  have  no  objection,  Guy;  but  I  think  it  will 
hardly  repay  you  for  the  time.n 

"My  time  isn't  of  very  much  importance  just 
now.  Somehow  I  have  a  great  desire  to  see  if  I 
can  find  anything  that  will  throw  light  on  my  un 
cle's  life  and  character." 

"Very  well,  Guy;  do  as  you  like.  And  now,  I 
must  get  to  work  on  my  sermon  for  next  Sunday. 
It  is  Friday  evening,  and  I  must  make  progress, 
as  I  may  have  one  of  my  bad  headaches  to-mor 


row." 


"Can  I  help  you,  father?"  asked  Guy,  with  a 
humorous  smile. 

Mr.  Fenwick  smiled,  too.  Though  so  different 
in  temperament,  he  was  really  fond  and  proud  of 
his  lively  son. 

"I  hardly  think  your  additions  would  be  for  the 
edification  of  my  people,"  he  said. 

"Perhaps  they  might  suit  some  of  the  young 
folks,"  suggested  Guy. 


6  IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Doubtless  they  would.  If  you  would  like  to 
try  your  hand  at  sermon  writing  you  can  write  a 
sermon  and  submit  it  to  me.  If  suitable,  I  will 
preach  it,  and  give  you  credit  for  it." 

Guy  laughed. 

"I'll  think  of  it,  father,"  he  said.  "I  am  going 
to  make  a  call  on  one  of  my  schoolmates,  and  will 
leave  you  to  do  your  writing  undisturbed." 

The  schoolmate  with  whom  Guy  spent  his  even 
ing  was  Tom  Todd,  a  boy  of  about  his  own  age. 
He  had  a  sister  some  ten  years  older  than  himself, 
who  was  a  teacher  in  one  of  the  Bayport  schools. 
She,  as  well  as  Tom,  liked  the  bright  son  of  the 
minister,  and  he  received  a  cordial  greeting  from 
both. 

"So  you  have  got  through  school  life,  Guy?" 
she  said. 

"Yes,  Miss  Todd." 

"And  you  are  fitted  for  college?  Does  your 
father  think  of  Harvard  for  you?" 

"He  would  like  to  have  me  go,  but  there  are 
two  objections  in  the  way.' 
,      "What  are  they?" 

"First,  he  can't  afford  the  expense." 

"What  is  the  second?" 

"I  have  no  desire  to  go." 

"That  is  the  most  important.     If  you  really  de- 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE  7 

sired  to  go,  I  think  you  could  borrow  money 
enough  somewhere,  for  you  are  acknowledged  to  be 
an  excellent  scholar." 

"Thank  you  for  the  compliment;  but  it  is  no 
disappointment  to  me  not  to  go,  though  it  is  to 
my  father.  He  is  a  regular  bookworm,  you  know." 

"I  know  that  he  is  not  practical." 

"Come,  Guy,  let  us  have  our  game  of  checkers," 
said  Tom.  "Let  me  see,  I  beat  you  last  time." 

"Then  it  is  my  turn  to  beat  you  now." 

The  boys  played  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  then 
Guy  rose  to  go. 

"What  is  your  hurry?     It  is  early  yet." 

"That  is  true,  but  father  is  nervous,  and  he 
doesn't  like  to  have  me  out  after  half  past  nine 
o'clock.  I  left  him  writing  his  sermon  for  Sun 
day." 

"Why  don't  you  offer  to  help  him,  Guy?"  asked 
Tom,  with  a  smile. 

"I  did." 

"Really  and  truly?"  said  Tom,  laughing. 

"Yes;  really  and  truly." 

"I  suppose,"  remarked  Miss  Todd,  "he  dtd  not 
accept  your  offer?" 

"No;  he  thought  that  what  I  would  write  would 
not  be  edifying." 


8  IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"If  you  would  write  a  sermon,  Guy,  I  would 
go  to  hear  it,"  said  Tom. 

"And  I,  too,"  added  his  sister,  the  teacher. 

"Then  I  should  be  sure  of  a  congregation  of 
two.  Well,  I  will  think  of  it." 

Guy  took  his  hat  to  go. 

"I  will  walk  with  you  part  way,"  said  Tom. 
"It  is  pleasant  out,  and  I  shall  sleep  the  better  for 
a  walk." 

"I  shall  be  glad  of  your  company,  Tom." 

When  they  were  outside,  Tom  said,  "I  had  an 
object  in  proposing  to  walk  with  you  to-night, 
Guy.  There  is  something  I  wanted  to  tell  you." 

"Go  ahead,  Tom." 

"I  think  it  is  something  you  ought  to  know.  I 
was  walking  home  from  singing  school  the  other 
evening,  when  I  came  up  behind  Deacon  Crane  and 
another  member  of  the  church,  Mr.  Job  Wilkins. 
I  didn't  hear  the  first  part  of  the  conversation,  but 
as  I  came  within  hearing  I  heard  Deacon  Crane 
say:  'Yes,  Brother  Wilkins,  I  have  thought  for 
some  time  that  the  best  interests  of  the  church  re 
quired  that  we  should  have  a  younger  minister, 
who  would  stir  up  the  people  and  draw  in  a  larger 
number.'  " 

Guy  flushed  with  indignation. 

"Deacon    Crane    said    that?"   he   ejaculated. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE  9 

"Why,  he  pretends  to  be  one  of  fa ther's  best 
friends." 

"I  think  it  is  a  pretense,"  said  Tom. 

"Poor  father!  If  he  should  hear  this  it  would 
almost  break  his  heart.  He  is  so  fond  of  the  peo 
ple  here." 

"It  is  a  shame;  but  don't  worry  too  much  over 
it.  I  am  sure  the  majority  of  the  parish  don't  wish 
any  change." 

In  spite  of  this  assurance,  Guy  went  home  in 
a  sober  frame  of  mind. 


10         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  II 

WHAT  GUY  FOUND  IN  THE  BLUE  CHEST 

MR.  FENWICK  was  only  forty-eight  years  old, 
but  his  sedate  and  scholarly  manner  gave  him 
an  appearance  of  being  several  years  older. 

It  came  to  Guy  as  a  shock  that  his  father  should 
be  considered  too  old  by  his  parish,  and  that  there 
should  be  any  movement  in  favor  of  a  younger 
minister.  He  knew  that  his  father  was  dependent 
on  his  salary,  having  very  little  property.  A  change 
would  be  disastrous  to  him. 

"I  wish  I  were  rich,"  he  thought,  "so  that  I 
could  relieve  father  from  any  anxiety  about  money 
matters.  It  is  lucky  I  don't  want  to  go  to  college, 
for  if  I  did,  it  would  be  a  good  many  years  before 
I  could  even  support  myself." 

The  next  morning,  after  breakfast,  Guy  thought 
of  his  sailor  uncle,  and  the  curiosity  again  seized 
him  to  find  out  the  contents  of  the  chest  up  in  the 
attic. 

He  went  up  the  narrow  stairs  leading  to  the 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         11 

garret,  and  found  himself  in  a  large  room  covering 
the  entire  extent  of  the  house,  for  the  attic  had 
never  been  finished  off  or  divided  into  chambers. 
There  were  piles  of  old  papers  and  magazines  in 
one  corner,  old  mildewed  garments  hanging  from 
nails  in  the  rafters,  and  two  or  three  old  rusty 
trunks. 

But  none  of  them  attracted  Guy's  attention.  He 
was  looking  for  his  uncle's  chest. 

At  last  he  found  it — a  typical  sailor's  chest, 
painted  blue,  showing  signs  of  wear,  for  it  had 
accompanied  his  uncle  for  years. 

Guy's  face  lighted  up,  and  he  hurried  toward  it. 

He  thought  it  might  be  locked,  but  he  was  glad 
to  find  that  the  lock  seemed  to  have  been  broken, 
so  that  he  had  no  difficulty  in  lifting  the  lid  and 
examining  the  contents. 

There  was  nothing  unusual  about  these.  They 
consisted  of  the  plain  outfit  of  a  sailor. 

There  were  one  or  two  books.  One  of  them 
was  a  Bible,  which  had  been  presented  to  his  uncle 
George  by  his  mother  at  the  time  he  left  home  on 
his  first  voyage. 

Guy  lifted  it  carefully,  for  he  had  been  taught 
to  reverence  the  Bible.  Then  he  saw  underneath, 
an  envelope  of  large  size,  unmarked  on  the  out 
side. 


12         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Opening  this,  he  found  a  large  sheet  of  paper, 
folded  lengthwise,  with  writing  upon  it.  Lying 
inside  was  a  smaller  piece  of  paper,  also  written 
over,  the  handwriting  being  that  of  his  uncle 
George. 

This  Guy  read  first.  The  contents  interested 
him  exceedingly. 

The  paper  is  subjoined. 

What  I  am  writing  here  may  or  may  not  be  of 
interest  or  value,  yet  it  may  prove  of  importance 
to  those  who  may  read  it,  though  it  is  possible 
this  will  not  be  till  after  my  death.  Last  year 
(from  the  date  Guy  saw  that  it  was  the  year  be 
fore  his  death)  among  my  mates  on  the  good  ship 
Cyprus  was  a  dark,  thin  man,  the  darkest  in  com 
plexion,  I  think,  that  I  ever  met  outside  the  negro 
race. 

No  one  on  board  knew  him,  nor  did  any  of  us 
get  well  acquainted  with  him,  for  he  was  very  si 
lent  and  reserved,  and  did  not  care  to  make  friends 
or  confidants.  Yet  he  did  his  duty  well.  No  fault 
could  be  found  with  him.  He  did  not  become  a  fav 
orite,  as  he  did  not  care  to  talk  or  be  sociable  with 
the  rest  of  the  sailors.  We  could  not  help  respect 
ing  him,  however,  as  one  who  strictly  minded  his 


\ 
IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         13 

own  business,  and  never  in  any  way  interfered  with 
others. 

This  man's  name  was  Antonio  Smith,  or  Tony, 
as  we  should  have  called  him  if  we  had  been  suffi 
ciently  intimate.  The  two  names  did  not  go  well 
together,  and  one  day  I  asked  him  why  it  was  that 
he  had  two  such  names.  , 

"It  is  easily  explained,"  he  said.  "My  father 
was  an  Englishman,  named  Smith,  but  my  mother 
was  an  Italian  woman." 

"That  explains  your  being  so  dark,"  I  said. 

"Yes,  I  suppose  so,"  he  answered. 

He  did  not  confide  in  me  to  any  further  extent 
As  far  as  I  could  observe,  he  seemed  moody  and 
morbid.  It  seemed  as  if  he  had  something  on  his 
mind — something  of  a  disagreeable  nature. 

Well,  toward  the  end  of  the  voyage  he  had  a 
bad  fall.  He  was  helping  to  furl  sails  when  an 
other  sailor  above  him  lost  his  hold,  and  fell  on 
him.  This  made  Antonio  lose  his  hold  also,  and 
he  dropped  to  the  deck,  striking  his  head. 

It  is  a  wonder  he  was  not  immediately  killed, 
As  it  was  he  was  fatally  injured,  as  it  proved,  and 
was  removed  to  his  bunk  in  a  dying  condition.  I 
pitied  the  poor  fellow,  and  as  much  time  as  my 
duties  would  permit  I  spent  at  his  side,  trying  to 
make  him  comfortable. 


14         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

One  evening  he  looked  at  me  earnestly,  and 
asked :  "Do  you  think  that  I  can  live,  George?" 

I  shook  my  head.  "I  don't  want  to  deceive 
you,"  I  answered,  uand  I  will  tell  you  the  truth." 

"It  is  what  I  want  to  hear,"  he  said. 

"The  doctor  says  you  can't  live." 

He  showed  no  agitation,  but  said,  thoughtfully : 
"That  is  what  I  thought." 

After  a  pause  he  continued :  "Before  I  die  there 
is  something  I  want  to  confide  to  someone.  You 
have  been  a  friend  to  me,  and  you  are  the  one  I 
choose,  if  you  don't  mind,  to  listen  to  what  I  have 
to  say." 

"I  will  hear  it,"  I  said,  "and  if  it  is  a  message 
to  anyone  in  whom  you  are  interested  I  will  engage 
to  deliver  it,  if  possible." 

"No,  there  is  no  one  in  whom  I  am  interested," 
he  answered.  "All  who  once  knew  me  are  dead, 
or  at  all  events  are  dead  to  me.  But  I  have  a  se 
cret  which  I  once  thought  would  be  of  value  to  me, 
and  may  be  of  value  to  you,  whom  I  constitute  my 
heir." 

All  this  seemed  very  queer  to  me,  and  I  half 
thought  that  the  sick  man  might  be  wandering  in 
mind.  He  went  on :  "You  must  know,  George, 
and  this  is  my  first  secret,  that  for  five  years  I  sailed 
under  the  black  flag,  and  was  a  pirate !" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         15 

1  looked  astounded,  as  well  I  might,  and  he 
continued : 

UI  see  you  look  surprised,  but  you  are  not  more 
surprised  than  I  was  when  I  found  myself  enrolled 
as  a  member  of  a  piratical  crew.  I  shipped  on 
board  the  Vulture,  supposing  it  to  be  an  ordinary 
merchantman.  It  was  not  till  I  got  well  out  to 
sea  that  I  learned  the  true  character  of  the  vessel. 
Then  I  was  asked  to  sign  as  a  member  of  the  crew, 
and  knowing  well  it  would  be  dangerous  to  refuse, 
I  agreed. 

"After  a  while  I  got  reconciled,  in  a  measure, 
to  my  position.  I  found  it  more  profitable  than 
the  post  of  an  ordinary  seaman,  and  yet  not  so 
much  so  as  might  be  supposed.  While  the  booty 
taken  was  very  large,  it  was  not  all  divided  between 
the  officers  and  men.  There  was  a  considerable 
portion  that  was  set  aside  as  a  fund  to  be  divided 
some  time  between  us  when  we  disbanded.  For 
not  one  of  the  officers  or  men  expected  always  to 
continue  pirates.  Some  day  we  hoped  to  give  up 
this  outlaw's  life  and  become  respectable  citizens, 
living  in  ease  and  luxury  on  our  share  of  the  booty. 
No  one  would  be  the  wiser. 

"I  was  an  Englishman,  and  I  looked  forward 
to  returning  to  my  native  village  in  Devonshire, 
marrying,  and  settling  down.  There  was  a  farm 


16         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

on  which  I  had  my  eye,  and  an  old  schoolmate — 
a  farmer's  daughter — whom  I  thought  I  could  in 
duce  to  marry  me  when  I  returned  rich." 

"But  where  was  this  booty,  as  you  call  it,  con 
cealed?"  I  asked. 

"That  is  what  I  was  coming  to.  It  was  con 
cealed  on  a  small  island  east  by  north  from  the 
great  island  of  Madagascar,  which,  as  you  know, 
lies  southeast  of  the  African  continent.  There  is 
a  group  of  islands  there.  None  of  us,  that  is, 
none  of  the  ordinary  sailors,  knew  the  name  of  the 
island,  if  it  had  any.  But  I  have  thought  it  over, 
and  consulted  maps,  and  to  the  best  of  my  reckon 
ing  it  is  one  of  the  Agalegas  Islands  in  about  57 
degrees  east  longitude,  and  a  little  more  than  10 
degrees  south  latitude.  I  estimate  that  it  may  be 
a  few  hundred  miles  from  Cape  Amber,  the  north 
ern  extremity  of  Madagascar." 

"Did  you  often  go  there — that  is,  did  the  ship 
often  touch  there?" 

"Every  few  months,  when  we  had  a  good  supply 
of  money  and  articles  to  leave  there." 

"I  suppose  there  was  quite  a  valuable  collection 
of  articles  stored  there?" 

"I  can't  tell  the  value,  but  there  were  chests  full 
of  gold  and  silver  coins,  boxes  of  bankbills,  and 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         17 

merchandise  of  the  rarest  and  most  valuable  de 
scription." 

"Is  it  there  now,  or  has  it  been  divided  ?" 

"It  is  there  yet.'' 
•     "How  came  you  to  leave  the  pirate  ship?" 

"I  did  not  leave  it  till  I  was  compelled  to  do  so." 

"How  is  that  ?  Were  you  discharged  ?  I  should 
hardly  think  the  officers  would  have  dared  to  let 
you  go,  considering  your  knowledge  as  to  the  char 
acter  of  the  ship." 

"You  are  right  there.  They  would  not  have 
dared  to  do  so,  but  the  Almighty,  whose  laws  had 
been  so  flagrantly  defied,  interfered.  There  came 
on  a  terrible  storm  when  we  were  cruising  in  the 
Indian  Ocean.  It  was  so  violent  and  unexpected 
that  we  were  by  no  means  prepared  to  meet  it. 

"In  the  course  of  three  hours  the  staunch  ship 
Vulture  became  a  wreck,  and  the  crew  who  manned 
it  were  forced  to  take  to  the  boats.  There  were 
three  of  these.  The  captain  was  in  one,  the  first 
mate  in  the  second,  and  the  boatswain  in  the  third. 
The  sea  was  so  rough  that  the  first  and  second 
boats  were  swamped  before  our  eyes.  I  was  in 
the  third.  When  the  storm  abated  it  was  still 
afloat.  I  was  one  of  the  men  on  board. 

"For  a  week  we  drifted  about,  suffering  every 
thing  from  hunger  and  thirst,  for  we  were  able  to 


18         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

carry  but  scanty  stores  of  food  and  water.  One 
by  one  I  saw  my  comrades  die,  but  having,  per 
haps,  the  best  constitution,  unimpaired  by  excesses 
of  any  kind,  I  survived — the  last  of  eight  men.  I 
was  very  near  death  when  I  was  picked  up  by  an 
American  ship.  Of  course,  I  did  not  say  a  word 
as  to  the  character  of  the  vessel  to  which  I  be 
longed,  and  those  who  rescued  me  were  not  too 
inquisitive,  so  I  reached  New  York  without  divulg 
ing  any  secrets.  But  my  great  secret  was  that,  as 
the  last  survivor  of  the  piratical  crew,  I  was  the 
heir  and  sole  possessor  of  the  treasure  stored  on 
the  island!" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         19 


CHAPTER  III 

GUY  TAKES  THE  FIRST  STEP 

GUY  drew  a  long  breath  when  he  had  read  thus 
far  in  the  manuscript,  and  then  plunged  into  it 
again. 

When  I  heard  this  stated  I  could  not  help  feel 
ing  an  emotion  of  pity  for  the  poor  fellow  who 
would  never  have  the  benefit  of  the  large  treasure 
to  which  he  had  become  heir.  I  could  not  under 
stand  exactly  why  he  had  revealed  all  this  to  me, 
but  he  soon  made  it  plain. 

"I  shall  not  live  to  enjoy  it,"  he  continued,  "but 
I  don't  want  the  secret  to  die  with  me.  I  would 
like  to  have  it  benefit  someone  not  utterly  a 
stranger.  You  have  been  kind  to  me,  and  to  you 
I  will  give  all  right  and  will  to  this  great  prop 
erty." 

"But  how  shall  I  find  it?"  I  asked. 

"I  have  prepared  a  document,"  he  replied,  "in 
which  I  describe  the  island,  and  the  particular  part 


20         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

of  the  island  where  the  treasure  is  concealed.  Put 
your  hand  into  the  pocket  of  my  blouse,  and  you 
will  feel  a  folded  paper.  Take  it,  and  some  day  I 
hope  you  will  be  fortunate  enough  to  find  the  place 
where  the  booty  is  secreted." 

I  thanked  him,  though  I  was  almost  too  bewil 
dered  to  realize  that  a  secret  had  been  communi 
cated  to  me  that  might  make  me  fabulously  rich. 

That  very  night  Antonio  died.  His  body  was 
sewed  up  in  a  sack,  as  is  the  custom,  and  thrown 
into  the  sea.  Of  all  who  witnessed  it,  I  was  the 
only  one  who  had  a  kindly  feeling  of  regret  for  the 
poor  fellow. 

Whether  I  shall  ever  be  able  to  make  any  use  of 
this  information,  I  do  not  know.  It  would  require 
a  considerable  outlay  in  money  to  fit  out  an  expe 
dition,  and  I  have  very  little  chance  of  inducing 
anyone  to  make  this  outlay.  I  have,  however,  writ 
ten  out  an  account  of  the  sailor's  revelation  to  me, 
in  the  hope  that  someone,  perhaps  after  my  death, 
may  seek  and  obtain  a  treasure  which  I  think  must 
be  of  fabulous  amount. 

(Signed)         GEORGE  BRANDON. 

Guy  read  this  letter  with  breathless  interest.  He 
took  in  the  full  importance  of  its  contents. 

He  realized  that  by  the  death  of  his  uncle  he 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         21 

became  the  next  heir  to  this  far-away  treasure. 
What  should  he  do  about  it?  With  him  there  was 
the  same  embarrassment  and  the  same  difficulty 
that  his  uncle  had  experienced. 

The  treasure  he  fully  believed  in,  but  it  was 
located  thousands  of  miles  away  on  a  small  island 
in  the  Indian  Ocean. 

It  was  tantalizing  to  reflect  that  it  existed,  and 
might  make  him  rich,  when  it  seemed  wholly  be 
yond  his  grasp.  All  the  capital  he  could  command 
was  about  twenty-five  dollars  in  the  Bayport  Sav 
ings  Bank. 

The  next  question  was :  Should  he  tell  his  father 
of  the  discovery  he  had  made?  It  might  be  his 
duty  to  do  so.  He  did  not  know  as  to  that. 

His  father  had  given  him  full  permission  to  open 
and  examine  the  chest  and  its  contents.  Possibly 
the  papers  and  the  secret  belonged  to  him,  but 
he  knew  very  well  that  they  would  be  of  no  earthly 
benefit  to  a  quiet  country  minister  who  lived  in  his 
books  and  his  study. 

To  him — Guy — on  the  other  hand,  it  might 
prove  of  value.  He  did  not  know  when  or  how, 
but  he  was  young,  and  to  the  young  all  things  are 
possible. 

So,  after  thinking  the  matter  over  fully,  Guy  re 
solved  to  keep  the  matter  secret. 


22         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

He  glanced  at  the  second  paper,  and  found  that 
it  was  a  minute  description  of  the  island,  but  he 
had  not  got  far  enough  along  to  feel  interested  in 
this.  It  would  keep. 

Guy  went  downstairs  slowly,  plunged  in  thought. 
He  hoped  his  father  would  not  ask  about  the  con 
tents  of  the  chest,  but  he  need  not  have  felt 
alarmed.  The  matter  had  passed  entirely  out  of 
the  minister's  thoughts. 

In  order  the  better  to  think  over  the  wonderful 
revelation,  Guy  went  out  for  a  stroll.  Like  many 
older  persons,  he  found  a  walk  was  favorable  to 
thought. 

He  walked  slowly  up  the  street  to  the  post  office. 
At  the  corner  of  the  second  street,  just  opposite 
the  dry  goods  store,  he  met  a  boy  whom  he  had 
never  liked. 

It  was  Noah  Crane,  the  son  of  Deacon  Crane, 
already  referred  to  as  desiring  a  younger  minis 
ter. 

The  thought  of  the  deacon's  wish  to  drive  his 
father  from  Bayport  was  not  calculated  to  increase 
Guy's  friendship  for  the  son.  Yet  he  would  be 
courteous,  being  naturally  a  gentleman. 

"Where  are  you  going,  Guy?"  asked  Noah. 

"I  am  only  taking  a  walk." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         23 

"Some  other  people  may  have  to  take  a  walk," 
said  Noah,  with  a  coarse  laugh. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  Guy,  coloring,  for 
he  knew  to  what  the  deacon's  son  referred. 

"Oh,  I  guess  I'd  better  not  tell,"  replied  Noah, 
in  a  tantalizing  tone. 

"Just  as  you  please,"  said  Guy,  coolly. 

Noah  was  disappointed,  for  he  wanted  Guy  to 
ask  him  a  question  which  he  was  very  ready  to  an 
swer.  Guy's  indifference  piqued  him. 

"You'll  know  soon  enough,"  added  Crane. 

"In  that  case  I  will  be  content  to  wait.1' 

"I  don't  know  that  I  have  any  objection  to  tell, 
though.  I  mean  your  father." 

"Take  care  how  you  talk  about  my  father,"  said 
Guy,  angrily.  "I  won't  stand  it." 

"Oh,  is  your  father  so  high  and  mighty  that  he 
can't  be  spoken  about?" 

"He  can  be  spoken  about — respectfully." 

"I  suppose  you  think  he's  a  great  man  because 
he's  a  minister." 

"I  rank  a  minister  higher  than  a  deacon,"  re 
torted  Guy,  quietly. 

"You  do,  hey?  Why,  my  father  could  buy  out 
your  father  two  or  three  times  over." 

"That  may  be;  but  what  does  that  prove?" 

"It  proves  that  you'd  better  be  careful  how  you 


24         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

talk.  I  heard  my  father  say  the  other  day  that 
the  people  wanted  a  new  minister — a  young  man 
that  would  make  things  lively.  I  shouldn't  wonder 
if  your  fathered  have  to  take  a  walk  before  long." 

"And  I  am  certain  that  you'll  have  to  walk  pret 
ty  fast  if  you  don't  want  to  feel  the  force  of  my 
fists." 

Guy  advanced  toward  Noah  so  menacingly  that 
the  latter  took  counsel  of  prudence  and  retreated 
hastily. 

"Keep  away  from  me,  you  bully!"  he  cried,  "or 
I'll  tell  my  father!" 

Guy  laughed,  and  walked  away,  not  caring  to 
have  any  difficulty  with  Noah.  What  the  deacon's 
son  had  said,  however,  furnished  him  food  for  re 
flection. 

Things  began  to  look  serious.  There  was  evi 
dently  a  movement  on  foot  to  get  rid  of  his  father, 
and  this  movement  was  headed  by  Deacon  Crane, 
a  man  of  influence  in  the  parish  and  the  town. 

"If  I  could  only  get  hold  of  this  treasure,  say 
within  a  year,"  thought  Guy,  "I  would  snap  my 
fingers  at  the  deacon.  It  would  make  me  rich,  and 
if  I  were  rich  my  father  would  be  rich,  too,  and 
independent  of  the  parish." 

The  "if,"  however,  though  a  very  short  word, 
was  a  very  important  one.  It  seemed  about  as 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         25 

practicable  to  go  in  search  of  the  treasure  as  to 
undertake  a  journey  to  the  moon,  and  no  more 
so. 

When  Guy  went  home  to  dinner  he  found  Cap 
tain  Grover,  an  old  schoolmate  of  his  father,  a 
guest  at  the  parsonage. 

The  captain  and  his  family  lived  in  New  Bed 
ford,  and  he  was  about  to  start  on  a  voyage  from 
there.  Happening  to  be  in  Bayport  on  a  little  pri 
vate  business,  he  called  on  the  minister.  Unlike 
some  shipmasters,  he  was  a  man  of  a  kindly  nature, 
and  was  a  favorite  with  Guy. 

"So  here  is  Guy,"  he  said,  as  the  boy  entered. 
"Bless  my  soul,  Guy,  I  shouldn't  have  known  you 
if  I  had  met  you  out  of  Bayport,  you  have  grown 
so.  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  him,  Brother 
Fenwick?" 

"I  would  like  to  send  him  to  Harvard,  John,"  re 
plied  the  minister,  "but  there  doesn't  seem  to  be 
any  chance  of  that,"  he  added,  with  a  sigh. 

"Why  not?" 

"Because  I  am  not  rich  enough." 

"Oh,  well,  college  is  all  very  well,  but  there  are 
other  things  that  are  good  for  a  boy.  If  I  had  a 
son,  I  don't  think  I  would  send  him  to  college." 

"I  agree  with  you,  Captain  Grover,"  said  Guy, 
promptly. 


26         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Your  uncle  George  was  a  sailor  ?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Did  you  ever  think  you  would  like  to  go  to 
sea?" 

"I  don't  think  I  should  like  to  be  a  sailor,  but 
I  should  like  to  go  to  sea  for  a  single  voyage." 

"It  would  do  you  good.  You'd  learn  more  in  a 
year  at  sea  than  in  double  the  time  on  land." 

"So  I  think,  sir.  When  do  you  start  on  your 
next  voyage?" 

"Next  week." 

"In  what  direction  shall  you  go?" 

"I  shall  go  to  India — probably  stopping  at  Bom 
bay." 

"Will  your  course  lie  through  the  Indian 
Ocean?"  asked  Guy,  eagerly. 

"Yes." 

"I  always  wished  I  could  sail  over  the  Indian 
Ocean,"  said  Guy. 

"Yes,  it  is  an  interesting  voyage.  Are  you 
through  school  ?" 

"Yes;  I  finished  last  week." 

"Then  I'll  tell  you  what,  Guy;  if  your  father'll 
let  you  go,  I'll  take  you." 

"Oh,  father,  may  I  go?"  asked  Guy,  in  a  tone 
of  earnest  appeal. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         27 

"Go  to  India?"  exclaimed  the  minister,  bewil 
dered  by  the  suggestion. 

"Yes;  it  would  make  me  very  happy." 

In  the  end,  Guy,  seconded  by  the  captain,  car 
ried  his  point,  and  obtained  his  father's  consent. 
He  had,  as  we  know,  his  own  reasons  for  wishing 
to  make  this  voyage.  It  was  something  more  than 
a  boy's  love  of  adventure. 

The  next  week  the  Osprey  sailed  with  Guy  as 
a  passenger.  He  quickly  established  himself  as 
a  favorite  with  the  sailors.  He  was  so  bright, 
handsome,  and  intelligent,  that  he  seemed  like  a 
gleam  of  sunshine,  making  the  whole  ship  cheer 
ful. 

He  cultivated  the  acquaintance  of  the  crew,  ply 
ing  them  with  questions,  and  often  might  be  seen 
engaged  in  an  animated  discussion  with  veteran 
sailors  who  were  always  ready  to  spin  a  yarn  for 
him. 

Captain  Grover  viewed  all  this  with  an  indulgent 
smile. 

"I  am  afraid,  Guy,"  he  said  one  day,  with  a 
laugh,  "that  you  are  picking  up  so  much  knowledge 
you  will  try  to  supersede  me  on  the  next  voyage." 

"It  will  take  more  than  one  voyage  to  qualify 
me  for  a  captain,"  returned  Guy.  "Still,  if  you 
need  help,  call  on  me." 


28         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  IV 

IN  THE  INDIAN  OCEAN 

DAY  followed  day,  and  week  succeeded  week, 
and  the  good  ship  Osprey  kept  steadily  on  her  way. 
Guy  was  not  seasick,  rather  to  his  own  surprise. 

"You  seem  to  be  cut  out  for  a  sailor,  Guy,"  said 
the  captain. 

"I  don't  know  about  that." 

"You  enjoy  the  sea,  do  you  not?" 

"Yes,  sir;  but  I  don't  think  I  should  care  to 
be  a  sailor." 

"You  are  picking  up  a  good  deal  of  seaman 
ship.  It  won't  be  long  before  you  know  every  rope 
in  the  ship." 

"Knowledge  doesn't  come  amiss,  captain.  I  have 
an  inquiring  mind." 

They  rounded  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  at 
length,  and  soon  found  themselves  in  the  Indian 
Ocean.  It  would  not  be  long  before  they  would 
reach  the  neighborhood  of  the  island  which  was 
the  goal  of  Guy's  hopes  and  expectations. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         29 

Till  now  he  had  not  thought  particularly  what 
he  would  do  when  he  got  there.  It  would  be  small 
satisfaction  to  see  the  island,  if  perchance  he  should, 
and  not  be  able  to  stop  there.  What  could  he  do? 

Alone,  he  was  quite  aware  that  he  could  do  noth 
ing.  It  was  absolutely  necessary  that  he  should 
make  a  confidant  of  someone,  and  of  someone  who 
could  be  of  service  in  helping  him  carry  out  his 
cherished  plan. 

Evidently  there  was  no  one  on  the  Osprey  who 
answered  this  description  except  the  captain;  but 
how  would  the  captain  look  upon  this  plan? 

Captain  Grover  was  a  pleasant  man,  and  a  good 
friend,  but  how  he  would  regard  Guy's  project  waj 
something  that  could  not  be  guessed. 

Guy  decided,  however,  to  tell  his  secret  and 
sound  the  captain. 

Already  they  had  passed  the  southern  point  of 
Madagascar,  and  Guy  felt  that  there  was  no  time, 
to  be  lost. 

He  had  free  access  to  the  captain  at  all  times,  and 
he  took  the  opportunity  of  entering  his  cabin  one 
evening  when  the  first  mate  was  taking  his  turn  in 
commanding  the  vessel. 

"Well,  Guy,  how  goes  it?"  asked  the  captain, 
pleasantly.  "I  am  tired.  You  can  talk  to  me." 


30         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"That  is  just  what  I  want  to  do,  captain,"  said 
Guy. 

"Heave  ahead,  then.  I  am  listening.  Perhaps 
you  have  some  advice  to  give  me  as  to  the  man 
agement  of  the  vessel." 

"I  have,  captain.  I  wish  you  would  be  guided 
by  me." 

"Well,"  said  Captain  Grover,  eyeing  his  young 
companion  with  curiosity,  "I  am  getting  more  than 
I  bargained  for.  Please  favor  me  with  your  sug 
gestions,  Captain  Guy." 

He  said  this  with  a  pleasant  smile,  for  he  really 
liked  his  young  passenger,  apart  from  the  friend 
ship  he  felt  for  the  father. 

"I  wish,  captain,  you  could  be  induced  to  visit 
the  Agalegas  Islands  in  your  course." 

"What  on  earth  do  you  know  about  the  Agale 
gas  Islands,  Guy?"  . 

f'I  know,  or  am  very  confident,  that  one  of  them 
was  used  by  a  band  of  pirates  as  a  hiding  place  for 
treasure  which  they  had  collected  from  those  they 
had  robbed." 

"Where  did  you  read  about  this?"  asked  the  cap 
tain,  abruptly. 

"Not  in  any  book,"  answered  Guy,  "but  in  a  let 
ter  written  by  my  uncle  George." 

"Your  sailor  uncle?" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         31 

"Yes." 

"And  was  this  your  object  in  coming  to  sea  with 
me?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Let  me  know  what  your  uncle  George  said.  I 
attach  no  importance  to  it,  but  I  have  a  feeling  of 
curiosity.  He  was  never  a  pirate,  was  he?" 

"I  hope  not." 

"Then  how  could  he  know  anything  of  pirate 
treasures?" 

"I  have  his  letter,  captain.  Would  you  mind 
hearing  it?" 

"No;  but  first,  where  did  you  get  the  letter?" 

Guy  told  the  story  of  his  search  in  the  attic,  and 
his  discovery  of  the  letter  in  George  Brandon's 
chest. 

"Very  well.     Now  for  the  letter.     Read  it  to 


me." 


In  a  slow,  deliberate  manner,  in  order  that  it 
might  be  fully  understood,  Guy  read  the  letter. 

The  accompanying  paper,  however,  he  did  not 
produce.  He  did  not  care  to  give  away  the  whole 
secret  unless  he  was  assured  of  the  captain's  co 
operation. 

"This  is  a  strange  yarn,"  was  Captain  Grover's 
comment,  after  he  had  heard  the  letter  through. 

"Don't  you  believe  it?"  asked  Guy,  quickly. 


32         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"It  sounds  plausible,"  answered  the  captain, 
slowly,  ubut  I  have  heard  a  great  many  stories 
about  pirate  treasure.  Plenty  of  sailors  are  ready 
to  manufacture  them.  They  tell  them  so  often  that 
at  last  they  come  to  believe  them  themselves." 

"My  uncle  George  would  not  indulge  in  decep 
tion." 

"I  presume  not,  but  I  am  not  so  sure  as  to  the 
sailor  from  whom  he  received  the  information." 

"The  sailor  was  on  his  deathbed.  Would  a 
man  be  likely  to  tell  a  falsehood  at  such  a  time?" 

"No  doubt  it  has  been  done  often.  However, 
the  paper  which  he  gave  to  your  uncle  was  not 
written  when  he  was  on  his  deathbed,  as  I  under 
stand,  but  some  time  before,  when  he  was  perfectly 
well,  and  had  no  idea  of  death." 

"That  is  true,"  Guy  was  obliged  to  admit. 

"I  don't  see  what  object  he  could  have  had  in 
deceiving  my  uncle,  though,"  he  added,  after  a 
pause. 

"Nor  I." 

"Then  you  think  there  may  be  something  in 
it?" 

"There  is  such  a  possibility." 

"Think  what  a  great  thing  it  would  be  for  us 
to  find  the  treasure,"  said  Guy,  his  face  lighting 
up  with  enthusiasm. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         33 

"It  would  be  very  agreeable,  certainly;  but  there 
are  some  serious  obstacles  in  the  way,  even  if  we 
knew  the  treasure  to  be  there." 

"What  obstacles,  captain?" 

"The  islands  you  refer  to  are  considerably  to 
the  north  of  my  usual  course,  and  my  duty  to  the 
owners  of  the  vessel  would  not  permit  me  to  vary 
my  route  for  any  private  enterprise  of  my  own." 

Guy's  countenance  fell.  He  saw  at  once  that  the 
captain  was  right  in  his  statement,  but  it  destroyed 
the  faint  hopes  he  had  entertained  that  he  might 
secure  his  co-operation. 

"I  am  afraid,"  he  said,  despondently,  "you  don't 
have  any  confidence  in  the  existence  of  the  treas 


ure." 


"I  don't  say  that,  Guy.  It  may  exist;  but  un 
less  you  have  clear  and  explicit  directions,  we  might 
miss  it  even  if  we  should  go  especially  in  search 
of  it." 

"But  I  have  a  description  of  the  island,"  urged 
Guy. 

"Suppose  you  give  me  an  idea  of  it." 

"It  is  well  wooded  to  within  a  mile  of  the  shore; 
toward  the  center  there  is  a  hill,  or  slight  eminence, 
perhaps  a  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  altitude.  The 
extent  of  it  is  probably  five  miles  by  eight." 

"That  is  tolerably  definite." 


34         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Don't  you  think  it  is  sufficiently  so  to  identify 
the  island?" 

"Perhaps  so;  but,  though  small,  one  might  hunt 
a  good  while  before  finding  the  treasure  after  the 
island  was  discovered." 

"I  have  some  directions  that  would  help  me." 

"That  is  well,  or  would  be  if  there  were  any 
chance  of  your  ever  finding  yourself  on  the  island." 

"Captain  Grover,  I  want  to  ask  your  advice. 
Can  you  suggest  any  way  by  which  I  can  manage  to 
reach  the  island?" 

"You've  got  me  there,  Guy.  These  islands  are 
never  visited  for  commercial  purposes.  I  know 
almost  nothing  of  them — indeed,  nothing  at  all,  ex 
cept  their  location.  Of  course,  if  there  were  ships 
that  visited  them  for  any  purpose,  that  would  sim 
plify  matters;  but,  so  far  as  I  see,  the  only  way 
of  seeking  the  treasure  would  be  to  organize  an 
expedition  expressly  for  that  purpose." 

"I  suppose  that  would  be  very  expensive." 

"It  certainly  would." 

"But  if  the  treasure  were  found,  the  one  who 
incurred  the  expense  would  be  richly  repaid." 

"Well,  perhaps  so,"  said  the  captain,  skeptically. 

"You  won't  go  anywhere  near  the  island,  then, 
captain?" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         35 

"No,  Guy,  I  sha'n't." 

Guy  sat  quiet  a  moment.  He  was  very  much 
disappointed.  He  began  to  realize  how  utterly 
quixotic  was  the  expedition  on  which  he  had  em 
barked. 

"I  begin  to  wish  I  had  never  found  the  letter," 
he  said. 

"As  to  that,  Guy,  no  harm  is  done.  I  presume, 
if  you  hadn't  found  the  letter,  I  should  not  have 
had  the  pleasure  of  your  company  on  this  voy 
age." 

"No,  I  suppose  not." 

"Probably  you  will  derive  some  pleasure  and 
benefit  from  the  trip,  even  if  you  never  touch  a  dol 
lar  of  this  treasure." 

"That  is  true,  captain ;  but  I  have  a  special  rea 
son  for  wishing  I  might  obtain  money  from  this 
source,  or  some  other." 

"What  is  it?" 

Then  Guy  told  what  he  had  learned  as  to  Dea 
con  Crane's  intention  of  driving  his  father  from 
the  parish.  It  would  be  a  heavy  blow  to  the  min 
ister,  who  was  no  longer  endowed  with  a  young 
man's  energy  or  hopefulness. 

"You  are  a  good  boy,  Guy,  to  have  so  much 
consideration  for  your  father;  but  I  am  afraid  you 


36         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

are  leaning  on  a  broken  reed  if  you  have  any  idea 
of  helping  him  by  the  discovery  of  this  treasure. 
However,  I  will  turn  the  idea  over  in  my  mind, 
and  if  I  can  think  of  any  suggestion  to  offer  you 
I  will  do  so." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         37 


CHAPTER  V 

AN  ADVENTURE  IN  BOMBAY 

GUY'S  conversation  with  Captain  Grover  left 
him  with  a  feeling  of  disappointment.  He  felt  that 
the  captain  had  little  faith  in  the  reality  of  the 
treasure,  and  considered  his  enterprise  a  failure  in 
advance. 

Guy  had  overlooked  the  principal  difficulties  in 
the  way.  He  had  managed  to  reach  the  Indian 
Ocean,  but  this  had  brought  him  no  nearer  the 
realization  of  his  hopes.  If  he  had  had  nothing 
on  his  mind  he  might  have  enjoyed  the  bright,  calm 
days  and  the  clear  skies,  with  glimpses  here  and 
there  of  islands  covered  with  tropical  vegetation. 

But  he  had  started  on  his  voyage  with  a  pur 
pose.  He  wanted  to  find  and  secure  the  treasure 
hinted  at  in  his  uncle's  letter,  and  make  his  father 
independent  for  life.  Of  this  there  seemed  to  be 
now  no  chance,  or  next  to  none. 

There  was  nothing  for  him  to  do  except  to  re 
main  on  board  the  Osprey  till  the  vessel  reached 


38         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Bombay.  Then  there  would  be  the  return  voyage, 
at  the  end  of  which  he  would  have  seen  consider 
able  of  the  world,  but  would  have  gained  nothing 
to  repay  him  for  the  year  he  had  spent  away  from 
home. 

But  there  was  no  help  for  it.  The  captain  would 
not  change  his  course,  and  Guy  must  be  content 
to  leave  the  island  unvisited,  and  the  great  prob 
lem  unsolved. 

At  last  they  reached  Bombay. 

Guy  surveyed  the  place  with  curious  interest. 
He  was  not  prepared  to  find  it  so  large. 

A  city  which  contains  seven  hundred  thousand 
inhabitants  is  a  great  city  in  any  part  of  the  world. 

Not  having  any  duties  on  board  the  ship,  Guy 
was  allowed  to  go  and  come  when  he  pleased. 

He  found  that  among  the  foreign  residents  the 
English  were  the  most  prominent  and  influential. 
His  walks  were  chiefly  in  what  is  called  the  Euro 
pean  town,  but  he  frequently  strolled  through  the 
more  picturesque  part  occupied  by  the  natives. 

One  evening  he  was  sauntering  through  the  Per 
sian  quarter  when  he  was  startled  by  seeing  a 
brown-faced  native,  his  head  surmounted  by  a  tur 
ban,  dart  from  an  alleyway  and  pursue  a  well- 
dressed  man,  apparently  either  English  or  Ameri 
can. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         39 

That  his  object  was  murder  or  robbery,  perhaps 
both,  seemed  evident,  for  he  held  in  his  hand  a 
long,  narrow,  dangerous-looking  knife. 

Guy  was  not  only  courageous,  but  prompt.  He 
carried  a  stout  cane,  not  that  he  needed  its  sup 
port,  but  because  he  had  been  recommended  to 
have  it  with  him  for  defense,  if  needed. 

He  did  not  pause  a  moment,  but  springing  for 
ward,  brought  it  down  with  emphasis  on  the  arm 
of  the  Persian. 

The  native  gave  a  sharp,  shrill  cry,  which  at 
tracted  the  attention  of  the  man  whom  he  had  in 
tended  to  attack. 

He  was  clearly  an  Englishman,  inclined  to  be 
stout,  and  apparently  about  forty-five  years  of 
age. 

He  looked  quickly  from  the  native  to  Guy,  and 
back  again. 

"What's  the  matter  ?"  he  asked. 

"Only  that  this  man  was  about  to  attack  you  with 
his  knife." 

"And  you  saved  me?" 

"Yes ;  I  was,  fortunately,  in  time  to  prevent  his 
striking  you." 

"I  don't  know  how  to  thank  you,  but  I  must  deal 
with  this  scoundrel,  first." 


40         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

He  seized  the  Oriental  by  the  throat,  and  forced 
him  to  his  knees. 

"Dog!"  he  said,  "what  have  you  to  say  before 
I  kill  you?" 

The  cowardly  fellow  uttered  voluble  and  abject 
entreaties  for  pardon  in  bad  English.  The  purport 
of  his  speech  was  that  he  was  a  poor  man,  and  had 
no  money. 

"Forgive  me,  Mr.  Saunders,"  he  said. 

"Ha  !  You  know  my  name  !"  said  the  English 
man. 

He  bent  over  and  scanned  the  face  of  his  would- 
be  assailant  closely. 

"I  know  him,"  he  said,  briefly.  "He  was  a 
native  servant  in  my  employ.  I  had  to  discharge 
him  because  I  found  him  dishonest  and  a  liar. 
Probably  his  attack  to-night  was  prompted  by  a 
spirit  of  revenge." 

"Don't  kill  me!"  pleaded  the  Persian,  in  terri 
fied  accents. 

"So  you  would  have  killed  me,  you  scoundrel!" 
retorted  the  Englishman,  shaking  him  vigorously. 

"I — pardon  me — I  didn't  know  it  was  you,  wor 
shipful  sir !" 

"You  knew  it  well  enough,  I'll  be  bound !" 

"If  you  will  go  with  me,"  went  on  the  English 
man,  turning  to  Guy,  "I  will  conduct  this  fellow 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         41 

to  the  police  office.  I  do  not  propose  to  let  him 
off.  He  is  evidently  a  dangerous  man,  and,  cow 
ard  as  he  is,  he  may  do  harm  unless  he  is  secured." 

Guy  readily  accompanied  his  new  acquaintance, 
and  saw  Isef,  as  he  was  called,  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  police  officials.  He  agreed,  also,  to  appear 
the  next  day  and  give  the  testimony  of  an  eye-wit 
ness  as  to  the  man's  felonious  attempt  to  assault 
Mr.  Saunders. 

"And  now,"  said  the  Englishman,  after  this 
matter  was  disposed  of,  "let  me  know  the  name  of 
the  boy  who  has  done  me  such  an  important  ser 


vice." 


"My  name  is  Guy  Fenwick." 

"Are  you  English?" 

"No,  sir;  I  am  an  American  boy." 

"I  thought  so.  Though  there  are  resemblances, 
there  is  a  dash  about  you  Americans  that  I  don't 
find  in  my  own  countrymen.  But  how  does  it  hap 
pen  that  you  are  so  far  from  home?" 

"I  came  to  Bombay  as  a  passenger  on  the 
American  ship  Osprey,  Captain  Grover." 

"A  passenger?  Then  you  are  not  connected 
with  the  ship?" 

"No,  sir." 

"Did  you  come  here  on  a  business  errand?" 

"Partly,  sir;  but  it  is  business  of  a  strange  na- 


42         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

ture.    If  you  will  let  me  call  upon  you  to-morrow,  I 
shall  be  glad  to  tell  you  what  it  is." 

"I  shall  certainly  wish  to  know,  and  if  it  is  any 
thing  in  which  I  can  help  you,  I  will  try  to  do 


so." 


"You  don't  know  how  much  you  are  promising, 
Mr.  Saunders,"  said  Guy,  smiling. 

"No,  I  don't  know  that;  but  I  do  know  that 
you  have  saved  my  life  this  evening,"  returned  the 
Englishman,  earnestly. 

Guy  did  not  gainsay  him,  for  he  knew  that  it 
was  true.  Had  the  Persian  driven  his  knife  into  the 
back  of  the  English  merchant  the  bL/w  would  have 
been  instantly  fatal. 

"Perhaps  I  had  better  leave  you  now,  sir,"  said 
Guy.  "The  captain  expects  me  to  report  at  the 
ship  before  ten  o'clock." 

"Very  well;  but  I  shall  expect  to  see  you  to-mor 
row  at  my  office." 

"Where  is  it,  sir?" 

In  reply,  Mr.  Saunders  handed  Guy  his  card. 

The  office  was  on  the  principal  business  street  in 
the  European  town.  Guy  was  already  sufficiently 
acquainted  with  Bombay  to  know  exactly  where  it 
was  located. 

"I  will  come,  sir,"  he  said. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         43 

When  Guy  returned  to  the  ship  the  captain  said : 
"You  are  late  to-night,  Guy." 

"Yes,  sir;  I  was  detained  by  important  busi 


ness." 


"So  you  have  business  here  already?"  returned 
Captain  Grover,  smiling. 

"Yes,  sir.     Shall  I  tell  you  about  it?" 

"If  it  won't  take  too  long." 

"I  was  fortunate  enough  to  save  the  life  of  an 
English  merchant." 

Guy  here  gave  particulars. 

"John  Saunders!"  repeated  the  captain,  in  sur 
prise.  "Why,  he  is  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most 
prominent  men  in  the  English  colony." 

"Whatever  he  is,  he  was  very  near  death  to 
night." 

"Did  he  ask  you  to  call  upon  him?" 

"Yes.    I  am  to  call  to-morrow." 

"By  all  means  keep  the  appointment,"  said  the 
captain,  in  a  significant  tone. 

"I  certainly  shall.  Mr.  Saunders  seems  to  be 
very  friendly  to  me,  and  I  am  glad  to  have  made 
his  acquaintance.  Do  you  know,  Captain  Grover, 
he  is  the  first  Englishman  I  ever  met;  that  is,  to 
become  acquainted  with." 

At  eleven  o'clock  the  next  day  Guy  presented 
himself  at  the  office  of  his  English  friend. 


44         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

He  sent  in  his  card  by  a  young  Persian  who 
seemed  to  be  in  the  merchant's  employ.  He  was 
received  at  once. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you,  my  young  friend,"  said 
the  merchant,  cordially.  "I  didn't  fully  realize  till 
after  you  left  me  what  a  narrow  escape  I  had.  It  is 
God's  mercy  that  I  am  alive  to-day." 

"The  danger  came  so  suddenly,  and  was  so  soon 
over,  that  I  have  not  realized  it  yet." 

"I  realize  it,  and  shall  always  remember  it.  But 
you  came  here  to  explain  the  business  that  brought 
you  to  Bombay." 

"I  had  no  thought  of  Bombay,  Mr,  Saunders. 
It  was  an  island  in  the  Indian  Ocean  that  I  wished 
to  visit." 

"Indeed!     Have  you  visited  it?" 

"No,  sir;  and  I  fear  that  I  shall  never  have  an 
opportunity  to  do  so." 

"I  am  in  the  dark.     I  do  not  understand  you." 

"Then,  sir,  I  will  try  to  explain,  but  I  am  not 
sure  what  you  will  think  of  my  enterprise." 

"Go  on." 

The  merchant  settled  himself  in  a  posture  of 
attention,  and  Guy  began  his  narrative. 

He  was  listened  to  without  interruption.  Guy 
could  not  gather  from  the  merchant's  expression 
what  impression  the  story  was  making  upon  him. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         45 

When  he  finished,  Mr.  Saunders  said: 

"Your  tale  is  certainly  a  strange  one,  and  your 
business  of  a  remarkable  character  for  a  boy  of 
your  age." 

Here  he  paused. 

"I  am  not  prepared  to  express  any  opinion  yet," 
he  added.  "I  must  take  a  little  time  to  think  it 
over.  Meanwhile  I  will  detain  you  through  the 
day.  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  take  dinner  with 


me." 


**I  shall  be  happy  to  do  so." 

"Then  if  you  will  occupy  yourself  with  the  pa 
pers  and  magazines  you  will  find  on  yonder  tab!?, 
I  will  write  some  letters  which  must  go  by  the  next 
steamer,  and  will  then  be  at  your  disposal." 


46         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  VI 

GUY'S  PROGRESS 

"How  long  will  the  Osprey  remain  in  port?" 
asked  the  merchant,  when  they  sat  at  dinner. 

"Four  weeks,  sir." 

"Your  sole  object  in  taking  passage  and  coming 
to  this  part  of  the  world  was  to  look  after  the  con 
cealed  treasure,  I  take  it?" 

"Yes,  sir.  At  any  rate,  but  for  that  I  should 
hardly  have  come." 

"Of  course,  you  knew  that  the  chances  of  your 
ever  being  able  to  visit  the  island  were  small?" 

"Yes,  sir;  I  knew  that,  but  I  trusted  to  luck;  and 
I  knew  that  at  any  rate  I  should  enjoy  the  voy- 
age." 

"In  what  way  do  you  propose  to  make  your  liv 
ing — by  a  profession,  or  by  a  business  career?" 

"I  expect  to  become  a  business  man." 

"Have  you  a  fair  education?" 

"Yes,  sir;  I  am  prepared  to  enter  Harvard  Col 
lege.  I  completed  my  course  of  preparation  last 


summer." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         47 

"That  is  well.  Now  I  am  going  to  make  you  a 
proposal." 

He  paused,  and  Guy  listened  eagerly  for  what 
was  coming. 

"It  is  this,"  said  the  merchant.  "I  suppose  you 
have  nothing  to  do  on  the  ship." 

"No,  sir." 

"I  will  invite  you  to  work  for  four  weeks  in  my 
counting-room.  It  will  be  the  commencement  of 
your  business  education.  Besides,  you  will  do  me 
a  favor,  as  a  young  clerk  is  absent  from  duty,  sick 
with  a  fever.  What  do  you  say?" 

"I  will  accept  gladly,  sir." 

"The  hours  are  not  wearing.  In  this  warm  cli 
mate  we  cannot  venture  to  work  as  steadily  as  in 
England  or  America." 

"Will  it  be  necessary  for  me  to  board  in  the 
city?" 

"No;  it  will  be  better,  on  the  whole,  to  sleep 
aboard  the  vessel,  as  you  might  contract  a  fever  on 
shore,  not  being  acclimated." 

"Very  well,  sir.  When  do  you  wish  me  to  be- 
gin?" 

"To-morrow  morning." 

"All  right,  sir." 

"As  to  your  compensation,  I  will  give  you  twen 
ty-five  dollars  per  week." 


48         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"But,"  said  Guy,  astonished,  "that  is  a  large 
salary  for  a  novice  like  me." 

"You  won't  be  a  novice  very  long,  and  I  paid 
that  salary  to  my  clerk  who  is  sick." 

"You  are  very  liberal,  sir." 

"I  have  good  reason  to  be." 

When  Guy  reported  his  engagement  to  Captam 
Grover,  that  officer  congratulated  him. 

"It  is  a  great  thing,"  he  said,  "to  have  won  the 
favor  of  a  rich  merchant  like  Mr.  Saunders.  Be 
sides,  the  knowledge  you  will  obtain  of  business 
will  be  of  infinite  value  to  you." 

So  Guy  went  to  work  the  next  day. 

Of  course,  everything  was  new  at  first,  but  ht 
had  a  thorough  training  as  a  student,  and  he  set 
to  work  to  learn  business  in  the  same  way  he  had 
learned  Greek,  Latin,  and  mathematics  at  school. 
The  result  was  that  he  made  such  progress  as  to 
surprise  Mr.  Saunders. 

"You  have  already  become  of  value  to  me,"  the 
merchant  said  one  day. 

"Didn't  you  think  I  would,  sir?" 

"I  thought  it  would  take  longer  to  break  you 
in.  You  have  the  making  of  a  very  successful 
business  man  in  you." 

Guy  was  gratified  by  this  tribute. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         49 

"I  am  pleased  to  have  you  say  so,"  he  replied. 
"I  have  a  special  object  in  wishing  to  succeed." 

"What  is  that?" 

"My  father  is  a  minister,  dependent  upon  a 
small  salary  for  support.  He  is  now  fifty,  and 
there  is  a  movement  to  oust  him  from  the  place. 
Should  that  succeed,  I  want  to  be  able  to  free  him 
from  pecuniary  anxiety." 

"That  is  highly  commendable  in  you." 

A  part  of  the  time  Guy  was  employed  upon  the 
books  of  the  firm.  One  day  he  pointed  out  an 
incorrect  entry  which  would  have  entailed  a  consid 
erable  loss. 

"You  are  sharp,"  said  the  merchant.  "Do  you 
know  that  you  have  saved  me  five  hundred  pounds? 
Besides,  you  have  opened  my  eyes.  I  have  reason 
to  think  that  my  former  bookkeeper — the  one 
whose  place  you  have  taken — was  in  league  with 
the  customer  in  whose  account  you  have  found  an 
error.  Our  transactions  are  so  large  that  I  should 
have  suspected  nothing.  Now  I  shall  make  an  in 
vestigation." 

"My  predecessor  may  have  been  simply  care 
less,"  suggested  Guy. 

"True;  but  I  can't  afford  to  employ  men  who 
are  careless." 

"You  won't  deprive  him  of  his  situation,  sir?" 


50         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Not  at  once,  but  I  shall  watch  him.  For  some 
reason  I  should  like  to  have  you  in  his  place." 

"I  should  like  to  be  in  your  employ,  but  I  should 
not  care  to  be  so  far  away  from  my  father  for  any 
length  of  time." 

"There  is  another  consideration,  also.  This  cli 
mate  would  be  dangerous  to  one  unaccustomed  to 
it.  No ;  I  have  other  views  for  you." 

"I  wonder  what  they  are,"  thought  Guy. 

The  four  weeks  rolled  quickly  away.  They 
might  have  seemed  long  to  Guy  if  he  had  been 
unemployed,  but  his  duties  in  the  office  so  occupied 
his  time  that  the  period  seemed  very  short  indeed. 

One  day  Captain  Grover  surprised  him  by  say 
ing:  "Well,  Guy,  the  Osprey  will  start  for  home 
next  Monday." 

Guy  heard  the  announcement  with  regret.  He 
had  become  so  interested  in  his  work  that  he  did 
not  like  to  leave  it. 

"I  suppose  you  will  be  ready?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

Guy  notified  Mr.  Saunders  that  he  should  have 
to  leave  him. 

The  merchant  looked  thoughtful. 

"I  am  sorry  for  that,"  he  said.  "Your  prede 
cessor — the  man  whose  place  you  are  taking — is 
not  yet  well." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         51 

"I  am  sorry  if  I  inconvenience  you,  Mr.  Saun- 
ders." 

"You  are  specially  anxious  to  return  on  the 
Osprey?" 

"If  I  don't,  I  know  of  no  other  way  of  getting 
home." 

"You  can  get  home  quicker  by  way  of  London 
and  Liverpool." 

"But  that  would  cost  considerable  money." 

"That  is  true.  Of  course,  if  I  detain  you  here 
I  shall  undertake  to  send  you  home  free  of  expense 
to  yourself.  Perhaps,  however,  that  may  not  be  a 
matter  of  so  much  importance  to  you." 

Guy  looked  puzzled. 

"You  would  travel  by  steamer  to  Liverpool,  and 
from  there  to  New  York  or  Boston,  also  by  steam 


er." 


"It  would  enable  me  to  see  more  of  the  world, 
but  it  would  cost  you  a  good  deal  of  money." 

"Yes;  but  I  have  not  yet  told  you  that  I  may 
have  some  business  for  you  to  attend  to  for  me  in 
England." 

"That  would  alter  the  case,  sir.  If  you  have 
confidence  enough  in  me  to  employ  me  in  that  way, 
I  shall  be  very  glad  to  do  what  I  can  for  you." 

"Then  there  is  another  matter.  I  have  not  yet 
spoken  to  you  about  the  pirates'  treasure." 


52         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"No,  sir." 

"I  have  thought  over  the  story  you  told  me,  and 
I  will  tell  you  the  decision  to  which  I  have  come. 
I  think  there  is  a  faint  chance  of  the  story  being 


true." 


Guy  brightened  up  at  this  admission,  for  he  had 
great  faith  in  Mr.  Saunders'  judgment. 

"Of  course,  it  will  cost  money  to  obtain  it,  even 
if  it  exists,  for  I  see  no  other  way  than  to  fit  out 
a  special  expedition." 

"Yes,  sir,"  returned  Guy,  soberly,  for  he  be 
lieved  this  would  destroy  all  chance  of  his  ever 
obtaining  the  treasure. 

"As  to  the  prospect  of  influencing  anyone  with 
capital  to  go  on  such  a  quest,  I  am  afraid  it  is  not 
bright." 

"I  suppose  I  may  as  well  give  it  up,  then?" 

"Not  necessarily.  The  time  may  come  when  I 
can  myself  undertake  it.  Meanwhile,  as  it  may 
be  a  good  while,  you  will  be  left  in  suspense  and 
poverty." 

"Still,  if  I  thought  the  time  would  ever  come 
when  you  would  be  willing  to  take  hold  of  it,  I 
would  be  content  to  wait." 

"Then  suppose  you  have  a  copy  made  of  your 
uncle's  letter,  and  also  of  the  one  in  which  direc 
tions  are  given  as  to  the  island  and  the  place  of 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         53 

concealment.  The  original  papers  you  can  keep, 
and  leave  the  copies  with  me." 

"I  will  do  so,  sir." 

"You  repose  a  good  deal  of  confidence  in  me. 
Suppose  I  fit  out  the  expedition,  secure  the  treasure, 
and  cheat  you  out  of  your  share  of  it?" 

"I  have  no  fear,"  replied  Guy.  "I  have  perfect 
confidence  in  you." 

"You  shall  not  regret  that  confidence.  I  will 
see  that  you  derive  some  immediate  benefit  from 
this  treasure  to  which  you  have  fallen  heir.  I  pro 
pose  that,  as  the  expense  of  fitting  out  the  expedi 
tion  will  be  mine,  I  shall  have  a  right  to  claim  one- 
half  the  treasure." 

"I  agree  to  that,  sir." 

"And  I  furthermore  agree  to  pay  over  to  you 
at  once  one  thousand  pounds,  to  be  repaid  to  me 
out  of  your  share  of  the  treasure  when  it  is  found." 

"But  it  may  never  be  found !" 

"That  will  be  my  lookout." 

"And  I  shall  be  worth  a  thousand  pounds — five 
thousand  dollars!"  said  Guy. 

"Exactly  so." 

"I  can  hardly  believe  it." 

"You  will  believe  it  when  the  money  is  in  your 
hands,  as  it  will  be  to-morrow." 


54         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"It  was  a  very  fortunate  day  when  I  met  you, 
Mr.  Saunders,"  said  Guy,  gratefully. 

"And  a  providential  day  when  I  met  you,  Guy. 
Don't  forget  that  you  saved  my  life.  But  I  have 
not  yet  spoken  of  the  business  which  you  are  to 
do  for  me  in  England." 

When  Guy  heard  this  he  was  even  more  sur 
prised. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         55 


CHAPTER  VII 

GUY   RECEIVES  A   COMMISSION 

"Nor  going  back  on  the  Osprey?"  exclaimed 
Captain  Grover,  in  great  surprise. 

"No,  sir.  Mr.  Saunders  wishes  to  retain  me  in 
his  employment." 

"But  are  you  aware  that  the  climate  of  Bombay 
is  very  trying  to  a  foreigner?" 

"I  do  not  expect  to  stay  in  Bombay." 

"I  thought  you  were  intending  to  remain  with 
your  present  employer?" 

"I  expect  to  remain  in  his  employ,  but  he  will 
very  soon  send  me  to  England  on  business." 

Captain  Grover  looked  still  more  amazed. 

"Does  he  know  how  old  you  are?"  he  asked,  ab 
ruptly. 

"He  knows  how  young  I  am,"  answered  Guy, 
with  a  smile.  "Still,  he  seems  to  have  confidence 


in  me." 


"I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  give  my  consent,  Guy. 
I  hold  myself  in  a  manner  responsible,  for  you,  as 


56         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

you  left  home  under  my  charge.  Still,  I  can  see 
that  Mr.  Saunders  is  likely  to  prove  a  good  friend 
to  you.  How  much  does  he  pay  you?" 

"Thus  far  he  has  paid  me  twenty-five  dollars  a 
week." 

"You  can  hardly  expect  that  he  will  pay  you 
such  large  wages  when  you  are  traveling." 

"On  the  contrary,  he  says  he  will  pay  me  more." 

"Either  ^you  are  a  very  smart  boy,  or  he  over 
rates  you  greatly." 

"Suppose  we  say  the  first?"  said  Guy,  smiling. 

"Well,  perhaps  so.  How  long  are  you  to  stay  in 
England?" 

"I  don't  know  yet." 

"From  there  where  will  you  go?" 

"To  Boston  or  New  York." 

Captain  Grover  looked  relieved. 

"I  want  to  be  able  to  tell  your  father  that  you 
are  all  right.  He  will  naturally  feel  anxious  when 
he  thinks  that  you  are  alone  in  a  distant  coun- 
try." 

"I  don't  know  about  that.  He  always  had  con 
siderable  confidence  in  my  ability  to  get  along." 

"He  didn't  know  anything  about  your  crazy  idea 
of  hunting  for  a  pirate's  treasure,  did  he?" 

"I  never  mentioned  the  matter  to  him,  and  I 
hope  you  will  not.  He  gave  me  permission  to 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         57 

seaich  Uncle  George's  sea  chest,  but  I  never  told 
him  what  I  found  in  it.  You  know,  captain,  he  is 
a  very  absent-minded  man.  I  presume  he  has  never 
thought  of  the  matter  from  that  day  to  this." 

"I  am  glad  you  have  given  up  the  notion  of  hunt 
ing  for  a  treasure  which  very  likely  does  not  exist/' 

uHave  I?"  said  Guy  to  himself;  but  he  only 
smiled. 

He  had  never  said  anything  to  Captain  Grover 
about  Mr.  Saunders'  plans,  or  about  the  thousand 
pounds  which  the  merchant  had  paid  over  to  him. 
He  knew  that  the  captain  would  rejoice  in  his  good 
fortune,  but  he  wanted  to  bide  his  time  and  surprise 
his  friends. at  home  with  the  story  of  his  luck. 

He  felt  that  already  he  was  worth  enough  money 
to  help  his  father  materially  in  case  Deacon  Crane 
should  succeed  in  his  efforts  to  have  him  ousted 
from  his  parish  in  favor  of  a  younger  man. 

On  the  day  that  the  Osprey  was  to  weigh  anchor 
Guy  remained  on  board,  with  Mr.  Saunders'  per 
mission,  till  the  good  ship  had  fairly  left  her  dock. 

As  he  watched  her  gradually  fading  out  of  sight, 
and  realized  that  he  was  perhaps  eight  thousand 
miles  from  home,  with  none  of  his  old  friends  near 
him,  he  felt  homesick  for  a  short  time,  but  soon 
the  thought  of  his  wonderful  good  fortune  cheered 


58         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

him  up,  and  he  went  back  to  the  office  full  of  ex 
hilaration  and  hope. 

In  about  a  week  the  sick  clerk,  whose  place  Guy 
had  taken,  returned,  and  a  few  days  later  Guy 
embarked  on  an  English  steamer,  bound  for  Liv 
erpool. 

On  the  departure  of  the  Osprey  he  had  taken 
up  his  residence  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Saunders,  who 
was  a  widower.  A  maiden  sister  kept  house  for 
him. 

"I  want  you  with  me,"  said  the  merchant,  "part 
ly  because  it  will  be  more  homelike  for  you  than 
a  hotel,  and  partly  because  I  shall  have  a  better 
chance  to  instruct  you  in  the  business  which  you  are 
to  transact  for  me  in  London." 

Guy  learned  that  Mr.  Saunders  was  special  part 
ner  in  the  London  firm  of  Russell  &  Co.,  and  had 
constant  transactions  with  them. 

A  part  of  Guy's  instructions  related  to  business 
to  be  done  with  them.  He  had  thought  that  this 
would  be  all,  but  he  was  mistaken. 

One  evening,  after  supper,  Mr.  Saunders  said: 
"I  have  given  you  directions  as  to  business  mat 
ters,  but  I  have  another  affair,  requiring  discre 
tion  and  good  judgment  on  your  part,  in  which  I 
shall  require  your  help." 

"I  shall  do  my  best,  sir." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         59 

"I  am  sure  of  that.  You  must  know  that  three 
years  since  I  was  informed  of  the  death  of  an  old 
schoolmate,  Herbert  Bell.  We  had  been  very  inti 
mate  in  school,  and  retained  an  interest  in  each 
other,  though  our  paths  in  life  differed  materially." 

"He  became  a  clergyman,  while  I  entered  upon 
a  business  career.  His  wife  died  before  him.  At 
his  own  death  he  left  a  son,  about  your  age,  I 
should  judge,  and  he  left  him  to  me,  beseeching 
me,  in  remembrance  of  our  old  intimacy,  to  look 
after  him.  This  I  willingly  agreed  to  do. 

"Poor  Herbert  left  only  a  few  hundred  pounds, 
the  income  of  which  was  quite  insufficient  to  sup 
port  and  educate  his  son  Vivian.  On  the  whole, 
I  was  not  sorry  for  this,  as  it  enabled  me  to  be  of 
even  more  service  to  my  friend's  boy. 

"I  would  have  been  glad  to  send  for  him  and 
bring  him  up  under  my  own  eye,  but  I  didn't  dare 
to  expose  his  health  to  this  dangerous  climate.  I 
therefore  placed  him  at  school  about  fifty  miles 
from  London. 

"I  had  been  so  long  absent  from  England  that 
I  knew  nothing  of  the  schools  there,  but  trusted 
to  my  business  correspondent  to  find  one  that  was 
satisfactory. 

"He  was  placed  at  an  academy  kept  by  Dr.  Peter 


60         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Musgrave,  whom  I  supposed  a  fitting  guardian  for 
the  orphan  boy. 

"You  see,  I  trusted  to  the  judgment  of  my  busi 
ness  associate.  I  have  had  little  or  no  direct  com 
munication  with  or  about  Vivian,  but,  immersed 
in  business,  took  it  for  granted  that  all  things  were 
going  on  as  they  should. 

"My  first  doubt  came  when,  about  a  month  since, 
I  received  a  letter  from  the  boy,  which  I  will  show 
you." 

He  took  from  his  desk  a  letter,  written  in  a 
schoolboy  hand,  which  he  gave  to  Guy  to  read.  It 
ran  as  follows: 

MY  DEAR  GUARDIAN  : 

I  have  been  wanting  for  a  good  while  to  write 
to  you  about  the  way  I  am  treated  by  Dr.  Mus 
grave.  He  seems  to  have  taken  a  great  dislike  to 
me,  and  uses  me  cruelly.  I  am  sure  it  is  not  be 
cause  of  my  conduct,  because  I  try  to  obey  the  rules 
of  the  school.  But  I  once  complained  of  his  son, 
Simon,  who  was  in  the  habit  of  ordering  me  about, 
and  who  regularly  made  me  give  him  half  of  my 
pocket  money.  Simon  denied  that  this  was  so,  and 
his  father  chose  to  believe  him.  The  result  was 
that  I  was  flogged,  and  from  that  time  I  have  been 
ill  treated.  Scarcely  a  day  passes  without  my  re- 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         61 

cciving  punishment.  I  can  never  be  happy  here, 
and  I  do  hope,  my  dear  guardian,  that  you  will 
remove  me  to  another  school. 

If  Dr.  Musgrave  knew  that  I  was  writing  to 
you  he  would  not  permit  me  to  send  the  letter.  I 
do  not  dare  to  post  it  myself,  but  have  got  a  school 
mate  to  drop  it  in  the  post  office  for  me. 

This  was  the  material  portion  of  the  letter. 

As  Guy  read  it,  he  felt  a  strong  sympathy  for 
the  writer,  and  his  indignation  was  excited  against 
the  tyrannical  schoolmaster. 

His  lips  closed  firmly,  and  there  was  an  angry 
light  in  his  eyes. 

"Dr.  Musgrave  wouldn't  have  treated  me  in 
that  way,"  he  said. 

"No,  I  think  not.  You  have  evidently  plenty 
of  pluck.  But  Vivian  probably  takes  after  his  fath 
er,  who  was  of  a  gentle  and  retiring  disposition. 
He  never  asserted  himself,  and  always  seemed  to 
me  to  be  lacking  in  proper  spirit. 

"Since  I  received  this  letter  I  have  felt  uneasy, 
and  wished  that  I  were  in  England  to  investigate 
Vivian's  complaints,  and,  if  necessary,  remove  him 
from  the  school." 

"I  wish  you  had  done  so  at  once,  Mr.  Saun- 
ders." 


62         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  had  no  one  whom  I  could  call  upon  to  act 
for  me.  This  letter  came  since  I  made  your  ac 
quaintance,  and  it  was  this  partly  that  led  me  to 
think  of  sending  you  to  England.  You  will  go  as 
my  representative,  with  full  power  to  act  in  my 
place,  as  your  judgment  may  dictate. 

"I  have  an  idea  that  the  boy  is  delicate,  and 
wish  you  to  consult  a  physician.  If  the  doctor  rec 
ommends  a  few  months  spent  in  travel,  I  may  allow 
you  to  take  him  with  you  to  America." 

"I  should  be  a  young  guardian,  Mr.  Saunders. 
I  think  you  said  he  was  about  my  age." 

"Probably  he  is  a  year  younger.  At  any  rate, 
in  all  essential  points  you  are  several  years  older. 
I  have  not  known  you  long,  but  I  have  confidence 
in  your  judgment.  As  to  the  expenses,  I  shall  au 
thorize  you  to  draw  upon  my  London  correspond 
ent  for  whatever  money  you  may  need." 

"I  will  gladly  undertake  the  commission,  Mr. 
Saunders.  I  think  I  can  promise  that  your  ward 
will  have  no  complaints  to  make  of  me.  Shall 
you  have  any  business  for  me  to  attend  to  in  New 
York?" 

"In  all  probability  I  shall  have.  My  New  York 
correspondent  is  Gilbert  Frazer,  whose  office  is  op 
posite  Bowling  Green.  Have  you  ever  been  in 
New  York?" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE          63 

"No,  sir;  but  I  have  no  doubt  I  shall  be  able 
to  attend  to  whatever  business  there  you  may  place 
in  my  hands." 

"I  have  no  doubt  of  it.    Where  is  your  home?" 

"In  Bayport.  That  is  a  village  in  Massachu 
setts,  not  far  from  New  Bedford." 

Mr.  Saunders  made  a  note  of  this. 

"I  will  give  you  further  instructions,  should  any 
occur  to  me,"  he  said.  "Now  we  had  best  retire.n 


64         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  VIII 

FROM  BOMBAY  TO  LIVERPOOL 

ON  the  steamer  which  left  Bombay  with  Guy  as 
a  passenger  he  occupied  one  of  the  best  staterooms, 
which  had  been  selected  by  Mr.  Saunders  himself. 

The  voyage  was  a  long  one,  and  Guy  had  abund 
ant  opportunity  to  become  acquainted  with  his  fel 
low  passengers. 

Among  them  was  a  young  Englishman,  perhaps 
twenty-five  years  of  age,  named  August  Locke. 
The  rest  were  old  or  middle-aged  men,  and  it  was 
natural  that  Locke  and  Guy  should  become  more 
closely  acquainted  than  the  others. 

On  the  first  day,  August  Locke  made  overtures 
to  Guy. 

"I  am  glad/'  he  said,  "that  there  is  one  young 
person  on  board  besides  myself.  Suppose  we  be 
come  friends?" 

"I  shall  be  glad  to  know  you  better,"  replied 
Guy.  "I  was  beginning  to  feel  lonesome." 

"You  are  English,  like  myself?" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         65 

"No;  I  am  an  American." 

"And  traveling  alone  ?  Why,  you  can't  be  much 
over  sixteen !" 

"That  is  my  age." 

"It  seems  strange  to  me  that  a  boy  of  your  age 
should  be  traveling  alone  so  far  from  home." 

"I  sometimes  wonder  at  it  myself." 

"It  can't  be  for  health,  for  you  are  fresh  and 
blooming." 

"No.    Suppose  I  say  that  it  is  on  business?" 

"Then  all  I  can  say  is  that  you  Americans  begin 
life  much  earlier  than  we  English.  Why,  at  your 
age  I  was  attending  school  in  England." 

"What  school  did  you  attend?" 

"The  school  of  Dr.  Peter  Musgrave,  not  far 
from  London." 

"I  am  very  glad  to  hear  it." 

"Why?"  asked  Locke,  with  a  puzzled  look. 

"Because  there  is  a  boy  at  that  school  in  whom 
I  am  interested." 

"An  American  boy?" 

"No;  a  ward  of  my  employer.  He  has  received 
complaints  that  the  boy  is  ill  treated,  and  has  sent 
me  to  inquire  into  the  matter.  If  you  can  tell  me 
something  of  the  school  I  shall  be  very  much 
obliged." 

"I  can't  say  much  good  of  it.    Dr.  Musgrave  is 


66         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

an  ill-tempered  man,  of  small  acquirements,  whose 
delight  it  is  to  tyrannize  over  the  boys  under  his 
charge.  I  have  received  more  than  one  flogging 
from  him,  wantonly  inflicted,  without  my  deserv 
ing  it." 

"You  would  not  send  any  boy  there  in  whom 
you  were  interested?" 

"Most  certainly  not!" 

"Then  I  shall  probably  withdraw  Vivian  from 
the  school." 

"You  speak  as  if  you  were  his  guardian,  and  had 
full  powers." 

"So  I  have;  and  I  suppose  I  may  call  myself 
his  guardian,  since  the  responsibility  has  been  given 
me  by  Mr.  Saunders." 

"Are  you  speaking  of  the  great  Bombay  mer 
chant?" 

"Yes." 

"He  seems  to  repose  a  great  deal  of  confidence  in 
you." 

"He  does,"  answered  Guy. 

"This  seems  strange,  since  you  are  an  Ameri 


can." 


"Yet  you  are  disposed  to  be  my  friend,"  said 
Guy,  smiling,  "in  spite  of  this  drawback." 
"True." 
"I  will  show  you  a  letter  written  by  the  boy  to 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         67 

Mr.  Saunders,  and  you  can  give  me  your  opinion 
of  it." 

August  Locke  cast  his  eyes  over  the  letter  of 
Vivian  Bell  already  quoted  in  a  previous  chapter. 

"Poor  chap  I"  said  the  young  Englishman.  "He 
does  seem  to  be  having  a  hard  time  of  it." 

"Can  you  tell  me  anything  about  Simon  Mus- 
grave,  the  doctor's  son?" 

"Not  much.  When  I  was  at  school  he  was  a 
small  boy  in  knickerbockers.  He  was  old  enough, 
however,  to  show  that  he  was  a  chip  of  the  old 
block,  and  inherited  his  father's  unpleasant  traits. 
That  he  would  bully  a  boy  whom  he  disliked  I  can 
readily  believe.  I  remember  once  giving  him  a 
thrashing  for  impertinence.  I  got  flogged  for  it 
by  the  doctor,  but  I  had  the  consolation  of  knowing 
that  I  had  hurt  Simon  quite  as  much  as  his  father 
hurt  me." 

"I  don't  think  he  would  bully  me." 

"You  don't  look  like  a  boy  that  would  allow 
himself  to  be  bullied.  I  suppose  this  Vivian  Bell 
is  a  different  sort  of  boy." 

"Yes;  Mr.  Saunders  tells  me  that  his  father  had 
a  gentle  disposition,  and  thinks  the  son  may  re- 
*imble  him  in  that  respect.  His  father  was  a  clergy 


man." 


That  explains  it." 


68         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  don't  think  so.  I,  too,  am  the  son  of  a  clergy 
man;  but  I  hope  I  have  some  spirit." 

"1  am  very  sure  you  have.  Anyone  could  tell 
that  from  your  manner  and  bearing." 

uDid  you  continue  at  the  school  till  your  educa-r 
tion  was  finished?" 

"No.  My  father  withdrew  me,  partly  because 
the  doctor  got  'down  on  me/  as  the  saying  is,  and 
partly  because  he  was  led  to  think  the  pupils  didn't 
learn  much." 

"I  suppose  you  don't  revere  the  memory  of  your 
old  teacher?" 

"I  have  often  wished  that  I  could  get  hold  of 
him  and  repay  with  interest  some  of  the  floggings 
which  I  received  from  him  as  a  boy." 

Guy  was  glad  to  have  obtained,  before  arriving 
in  England,  some  information  in  regard  to  the 
school  which  Vivian  Bell  was  attending.  Now  that 
he  knew  for  certain  that  the  complaints  the  boy 
made  were  justified,  he  was  in  a  hurry  to  release 
him  from  the  tyrannical  rule  under  which  he  was 
suffering. 

"When  I  go  out  to  Dr.  Musgrave's  school,  Mr. 
Locke,"  he  said,  "I  wish  you  would  come  with 


me." 


"Perhaps  I  may;  I  should  like  to  see  the  old 
place.    My  memories  of  it  are  not  all  disagreeable. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         69 

Some  of  the  boys  were  friends  of  mine,  and  I  re 
member  them  with  attachment.  I  am  one  who 
does  not  forget  old  friends." 

"I  am  sure  not." 

"Then  I  should  like  to  see  the  doctor  again. 
When  we  parted  I  was  a  boy  of  fifteen,  and  I  stood 

in  fear  of  his  superior  strength.  Now "  and 

he  smiled  as  he  rose  to  his  full  height  and  stretched 
out  his  muscular  arms. 

"Now,  you  would  be  more  than  a  match  for 
him,"  suggested  Guy. 

"I  think  there  is  no  doubt  of  that.  I  have  been 
growing  stronger,  until  I  am  much  more  powerful 
than  he  was  at  his  best,  while  the  years  that  have 
elapsed — ten — have  probably  diminished  his  vig 


or." 


During  the  voyage  Guy  and  August  Locke  had 
many  pleasant  conversations.  Guy  learned  that 
he  was  the  nephew  of  a  Glasgow  merchant,  and 
that  his  visit  to  Bombay  had  been  on  business. 

"You  are  Scotch?"  said  Guy. 

"My  mother  was  English,  so  that  I  am  only 
half  Scotch." 

Among  the  passengers  on  board  was  another 
American,  but  he  was  a  man  of  sixty.  He  seemed 
a  cynical  man,  who,  strangely  enough,  appeared  to 
conceive  a  dislike  for  his  young  countryman. 


70         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Indeed,  he  had  no  sympathy  with  young  people, 
whom  he  thought  to  be  utterly  destitute  of  judg 
ment.  His  curiosity  was  excited  by  finding  a  boy 
of  Guy's  age  traveling  alone,  and  he  plied  him 
with  questions  till  he  found  out  that  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  John  Saunders  of  Bombay. 

"Couldn't  Mr.  Saunders  find  an  older  represent 
ative  than  you  ?"  he  asked,  in  an  unpleasant  tone. 

"I  have  no  doubt  he  might,  sir." 

"Then  he  was  a  fool  to  confide  his  business  to 
a  mere  boy." 

Guy  was  not  offended,  but  he  was  amused. 

"Do  you  know  Mr.  Saunders,  sir?"  he  asked. 

"I  have  met  him — in  a  business  way." 

"Did  he  impress  you  as  a  fool?"  asked  Guy,  de 
murely. 

Solon  Johnson  eyed  the  boy  sharply.  He  was  not 
quite  sure  whether  he  was  being  made  fun  of  or 
not. 

"I  can't  call  him  that,"  he  answered,  "for  he 
has  been  successful  in  business  and  made  a  large 
fortune." 

"Yet  he  has  appointed  me  his  agent." 

"Yes,  he  has  shown  his  folly  there." 

"I  suppose  if  you  had  known  him  well  enough 
you  would  have  dissuaded  him  from  doing  it?" 

"I  certainly  should.    I  don't  mean  any  reflection 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         71 

upon  you,  young  man,  but  it  stands  to  reason  that 
a  boy  of  your  age  is  unfit  for  any  large  responsi 
bility." 

"Perhaps  you  are  right,"  said  Guy,  a  little  net 
tled,  "but  I  shall  endeavor  to  show  that  he  made 
no  mistake." 

"I  can't  understand  at  all  how  such  a  man  should 
have  made  such  a  blunder.  Were  you  ever  in  busi 
ness  before  you  left  America?" 

"No,  sir." 

"What  could  possibly  have  recommended  you 
to  Mr.  Saunders?" 

Guy  could  easily  have  satisfied  his  curiosity,  but 
he  did  not  propose  to  do  so. 

"We  became  acquainted,  sir,  and  he  employed 
me  in  his  office  in  Bombay.  So  he  had  some  op 
portunity  of  becoming  familiar  with  my  capacity 
for  business." 

"What  did  he  pay  you?" 

Guy  felt  that  this  was  going  too  far.  He  did 
not  care  to  gratify  Mr.  Johnson's  impertinent  cu 
riosity. 

"You  must  excuse  my  answering  that  question, 
Mr.  Johnson,"  he  said. 

"Oh,  well,  just  as  you  please.  If  you  were  in 
my  office  in  Boston  I  should  not  think  of  offering 
you  more  than  five  dollars  a  week." 


72         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Then,  sir,  I  think  I  shall  hardly  be  likely  to 

apply  to  you  for  employment." 

"I  don't  think  much  of  your  countryman,  Guy," 

said  August  Locke,  when  they  were  alone. 

uNor  do  I,  Mr.  Locke.    I  wonder  which  is  right 

in  his  estimate  of  me — Mr.  Saunders  or  he." 
"Mr.  Saunders,  I  am  sure." 
"Thank  you  for  your  good  opinion." 
At  length  the  long  voyage  was  over,  and  with  a 

thrill  of  interest  and  excitement  Guy  stepped  on  the 

wharf  at  Liverpool. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         73 


CHAPTER  IX 

GUY  ARRIVES  IN  LONDON 

IN  company  with  his  new  acquaintance,  August 
Locke,  Guy  pushed  on  to  London.  He  knew  noth 
ing  about  hotels,  but  by  the  advice  of  Locke  he  se 
cured  a  room  at  the  Charing  Cross. 

The  next  morning  he  called  at  the  offices  of  Mr. 
Saunders'  correspondent,  Mr.  Russell. 

These  offices  were  in  a  solid  and  heavy-looking 
building,  quite  different  from  the  business  struc 
tures  to  be  found  in  American  cities. 

Guy  entered,  and  was  asked  his  business  by  the 
clerk,  who  looked  as  if  he  might  have  come  from 
Glasgow  or  some  other  Scotch  city. 

"I  wish  to  see  Mr.  Russell,"  answered  Guy. 

"You  can  give  me  your  message." 

"I  might,  but  I  don't  think  I  shall.  I  wish  to 
see  Mr.  Russell  personally." 

"Mr.  Russell  does  not  see  boys,"  said  the  clerk, 
in  an  important  tone.  "What  firm  are  you  with?" 

"Mr.  John  Saunders  of  Bombay." 


74         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

The  clerk  opened  wide  his  eyes  in  astonishment. 

"As  I  have  come  some  thousands  of  miles  to 
see  Mr.  Russell,  I  hope  he  will  grant  me  an  inter 
view,"  Guy  added. 

"Do  you  come  from  Bombay?'*  asked  the  clerk, 
in  an  altered  tone. 

"Yes." 

"Who  came  with  you?" 

"Quite  a  number  of  passengers,"  answered  Guy, 
coolly,  "but  I  don't  see  what  concern  that  is  of 
yours." 

"You  are  a  hextraordinary  boy,"  said  the  Scotch 
clerk,  who  had  been  long  enough  in  London  to 
acquire  the  Cockney  accent. 

"Thank  you  for  the  compliment,  but  I  should 
like  to  see  Mr.  Russell." 

The  clerk  withdrew  to  an  inner  room,  and  pres 
ently  reappeared. 

"You  can  go  in,"  he  said. 

Guy  nodded,  and  betook  himself  to  Mr.  Rus 
sell's  private  room. 

He  found  himself  in  the  presence  of  a  grave- 
looking  man  of  fifty,  who  looked  staid  and  digni 
fied. 

He  surveyed  Guy  with  evident  curiosity. 

"My  clerk  tells  me  you  came  from  Bombay, 
from  my  correspondent,  Mr.  Saunders." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         75 

"I  am  glad  he  told  you  so  much.  He  tried  to 
prevent  my  seeing  you." 

"I  do  not  often  transact  business  with  boys  of 
your  age.  That  was  doubtless  his  reason." 

"Whatever  his  reason  may  have  been,  he  made 
a  mistake." 

"I  suppose  you  have  credentials?" 

"Here  is  Mr.  Saunders'  letter." 

The  dignified  Mr.  Russell  took  the  proffered  let 
ter,  and  as  he  read  it  looked  from  time  to  time  at 
Guy  in  evident  surprise. 

This  was  the  letter: 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : 

This  letter  will  be  presented  you  by  young  Mr. 
Fenwick,  who  has  been  in  my  employ  here,  and 
who  has  my  entire  confidence.  I  have  given  him 
two  or  three  business  commissions,  of  which  he 
will  speak  to  you.  I  have  also  instructed  him  tq 
visit  the  school  at  which  you  placed  my  young 
ward,  Vivian  Bell,  and  investigate  some  complaints 
which  the  boy  has  made  in  a  letter  to  me.  Should 
he  find  them  to  be  well  founded  he  will,  at  his  dis 
cretion,  either  remove  him  to  another  school,  or, 
should  his  health  require  it,  take  him  on  a  jour 
ney. 

Whatever  funds  he  may  require  you  will  sup- 


76         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

ply  him  with,  to  an  extent  not  exceeding  five  hun 
dred  pounds,  and  aid  him  in  any  way  he  may  sug 
gest.  Though  he  is  young,  I  have  implicit  confi 
dence  in  his  good  judgment. 

Yours  respectfully, 

JOHN  SAUNDERS. 

It  was  evident  that  the  grave  Mr.  Russell  was 
very  much  amazed. 

Guy  seemed  so  young,  and  the  responsible  posi 
tion  in  which  he  had  been  placed  seemed  so  un 
suitable  to  his  youth,  that  the  London  merchant 
could  hardly  believe  that  the  letter  was  genuine. 

"Mr.  Saunders  writes  that  you  were  in  his  office 
in  Bombay." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"How  long  were  you  there?" 

"About  six  weeks." 

"Did  he  know  you  before  he  engaged  you  to 
enter  his  service?" 

"Only  a  day  or  two." 

"All  this  is  very  extraordinary.  Were  you  born 
in  England  or  in  Bombay?" 

"In  neither,  sir.     I  am  an  American." 

"I  cannot  understand  how  Mr.  Saunders  should 
have  engaged  you  on  such  short  acquaintance,  as 
you  are  so  young." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         77 

"I  don't  like  to  mention  it,  sir,  but  I  had  the 
good  fortune  to  save  his  life,  and " 

"How?" 

Guy  related  the  particulars  of  the  night  attack 
on  Mr.  Saunders. 

"I  understand,"  said  the  Englishman,  his  face 
clearing  up.  "You  certainly  placed  my  friend  un 
der  great  obligation;  but  how  came  he  to  have  so 
much  confidence  in  your  business  ability  ?" 

"He  knew  nothing  of  my  business  ability  at  first, 
but  after  employing  me  a  few  weeks  he  seemed  to 
be  satisfied  with  me." 

"Quite  so.  I  was  at  first  inclined  to  fear  that 
my  old  friend  had  lost  his  usual  discretion,  but  I 
begin  to  see  that  he  has  acted  sensibly.  I  shall, 
of  course,  comply  with  his  request,  and  will  assist 
you  to  the  best  of  my  endeavors.  First,  do  you  re 
quire  any  money?" 

"Not  to-day,  sir,  but  I  probably  shall  soon." 

Guy  gave  some  business  messages  to  Mr.  Rus 
sell,  and  then  asked:  "Have  you  heard  anything 
of  Mr.  Saunders*  young  ward,  of  late,  Mr.  Rus 
sell?" 

"Yesterday  I  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Mus- 
grave,  complaining  of  his  insubordination." 

"Will  you  kindly  show  me  the  letter?" 

The  merchant  opened  his  desk  and  produced  a 


78         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

letter,  which  he  placed  in  the  hands  of  his  young 
companion. 

Guy  read  it  with  mingled  interest  and  curiosity. 

This  is  the  material  portion  of  it : 

RESPECTED  SIR: 

I  regret  to  find  myself  under  the  necessity  of 
complaining  to  you  of  the  boy  whom  you  some  time 
since  placed  under  my  charge.  I  should  have  re 
frained  from  doing  so,  feeling  quite  able  to  manage 
him,  if  I  did  not  suspect  that  he  had  made  com 
plaints  to  you  or  Mr.  Saunders,  of  Bombay,  of  his 
treatment  at  the  school.  Let  me  say,  then,  that  he 
has  shown  himself  very  insubordinate,  and  in  that 
respect  has  set  a  bad  example  to  my  other  pupils. 
In  particular  he  is  impudent  to  my  son  Simon,  and 
seems  to  have  conceived  a  violent  hatred  for  him. 

Simon  is  a  very  trustworthy  and  reliable  boy, 
who  endeavors  in  every  way  to  carry  out  my  wishes. 
I  have  made  him  a  monitor,  and  to  a  certain  extent 
have  placed  the  younger  boys  under  his  charge.  He 
has  exercised  great  forbearance  with  Vivian,  only 
requiring  him  to  treat  him,  as  my  representative, 
with  proper  respect.  This,  young  Bell  seems  un 
willing  to  do,  and  I  have  no  doubt  is  quite  capable 
of  misrepresenting  the  condition  of  things  at  the 
school,  and  his  own  treatment. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         79 

I  do  not  ask  your  assistance  in  any  way,  feeling 
quite  able  to  cope  with  him,  but  I  wish  to  prepare 
you  for  any  mendacious  statements  the  boy  may  be 
tempted  to  make. 

My  school  has,  happily,  a  high  reputation,  and 
has  been  for  years  noted  for  its  excellent  parental 
discipline.  I  have  received  many  testimonials  from 
parents  who  appreciate  the  valuable  training  their 
sons  have  received  at  the  school. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

PETER  MUSGRAVE,  LL.D. 

"What  do  you  think  of  this  letter,  Mr.  Russell?" 
asked  Guy. 

"I  have  nothing  to  go  upon.  I  have  not  received 
any  letter  of  complaint  from  young  Bell." 

"Mr.  Saunders  has." 

"Indeed!" 

"I  have  brought  a  copy  of  it  to  show  you." 

The  merchant  looked  over  the  letter,  which  has 
already  been  given  in  an  earlier  chapter. 

"If  these  statements  are  true,"  he  said  slowly, 
"the  boy  should  be  removed  at  once.  The  question 
is,  are  they  true  or  not?" 

"What  did  you  know  of  the  school,  sir,  that  led 
you  to  select  it  for  Vivian  Bell?" 


80         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  saw  it  advertised  in  the  Times.  Several  well- 
known  names  were  appended  as  references." 

"I  chanced  to  have  a  fellow  passenger,  a  young 
man,  who,  in  his  boyhood,  was  a  pupil  at  the 
school." 

"Ha!     And  what  did  he  say?" 

"That  Dr.  Musgrave  was  a  brute  and  a  tyrant." 

"Possibly  he  was  insubordinate,  also." 

"I  shall  bring  him  in  some  day  to  call  upon  you. 
His  name  is  August  Locke,  of  Glasgow." 

"Indeed!  Is  he  related  to  the  merchant  of  that 
name?"  asked  Mr.  Russell,  with  interest. 

"He  is  his  son." 

"His  testimony  carries  weight.  Then  he  thinks 
the  complaints  are  well  founded?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Well,  Mr.  Fenwick,  the  affair  is  in  your  hands, 
I  have  no  responsibility  in  the  matter.  You  will 
doubtless  go  to  Milton  and  investigate." 

"Yes,  sir.  I  am  glad  to  say  that  Mr.  Locke  has 
agreed  to  go  with  me." 

"He  can  assist  you  materially,  as  he  is  acquainted 
with  the  school." 

At  this  moment  the  young  Scotch  clerk  made  his 
appearance. 

"Here  is  a  message  just  received  from  Milton," 
he  said. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         81 

The  merchant  tore  it  open,  and  read  aloud,  in 
some  excitement: 

FROM  DR.  MUSGRAVE,  OF  MILTON,  TO  DAVID 

RUSSELL,  GRACE  COURT,  LONDON. 
The  boy  Fivian  Bell  has  run  away.     Will  you 
defray  expenses  of  search? 

"How  shall  I  answer  this,  Mr.  Fenwick?" 
"Please  wire  him  that  a  special  messenger  will 
call  upon  him  to-morrow." 


82         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  X 

AT  MILTON  SCHOOL 

MILTON  SCHOOL  was  situated  in  a  delightful 
part  of  the  country.  It  was  broad  on  the  ground, 
and  built  of  stone,  the  sides  being  overgrown  with 
the  clinging  ivy  so  abundant  in  England. 

It  ought  to  have  been  a  paradise.  Casual  visit 
ors  always  admired  it,  and  declared  that  the  boys 
who  attended  it  were  especially  favored. 

But  they  did  not  know  the  character  of  Dr.  Pe 
ter  Musgrave,  who  had  for  fifteen  years  exercised 
tyrannical  sway  over  the  pupils  committed  to  his 
charge. 

He  was  in  the  habit  of  forming  sudden  preju 
dices  against  his  pupils,  and  when  he  was  udown 
on  a  boy,"  as  the  saying  is,  no  amount  of  good  be 
havior  softened  him.  Vivian  Bell  had  been  un 
fortunate  enough  to  incur  this  man's  enmity,  and 
his  life  had  been  a  hard  one  ever  since  he  had  en 
tered  the  school. 

Two  days  before  the  date  of  the  telegram  men- 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         83 

tioned  at  the  close  of  the  last  chapter,  Simon  Mus- 
grave,  the  doctor's  son,  ordered  Vivian  to  go  on 
an  errand  to  Milton  village. 

"I  have  a  bad  headache,  Simon,"  said  Vivian. 
"I  don't  feel  as  if  I  could  sit  up." 

"I  don't  believe  a  word  of  it,"  returned  the 
young  tyrant.  "You're  lazy,  that's  all." 

"But  indeed  my  head  aches  badly,  Simon." 

"Don't  call  me  Simon." 

"Isn't  that  your  name?"  asked  Vivian,  wonder- 
ingly. 

"My  name  to  you  is  Mr.  Musgrave.  Just  re 
member  that,  will  you?" 

"Yes,  Simon — I  mean  Mr.  Musgrave." 

"Take  that!"  said  Simon,  aiming  a  blow  at  Viv 
ian  that  nearly  felled  him  to  the  ground.  "Perhaps 
you'll  remember  next  time." 

"You  have  no  right  to  strike  me!"  said  Vivian, 
plucking  up  courage. 

He  did  not  dare  to  retaliate,  for  he  was  weak 
compared  with  the  young  tyrant. 

"Haven't!?    Then  I'll  do  it  again!" 

Which  threat  he  promptly  translated  into  ac 
tion. 

"Now  you  know  me.  Don't  you  ever  dare  to 
tell  me  again  that  I  haven't  a  right  to  wallop  you ! 
Start  for  the  village  at  once,  or  you'll  get  another !" 


84:         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

But  there  was  an  unexpected  champion  in  the 
person  of  one  of  the  older  boys,  who  had  come  up 
while  Simon  was  gratifying  his  brutal  instincts. 

"I  say,  Musgrave,  what  are  you  doing  to  Bell?" 

"None  of  your  business !" 

"Isn't  it,  though?    You  have  made  him  cry." 

"Oh,  he's  a  cry-baby,  anyway,"  said  Simon, 
scornfully. 

"What  has  he  been  doing  to  you,  Vivian?"  asked 
the  other  boy,  kindly. 

"He  hit  me  twice!" 

"What  did  you  do  that  for?" 

"I  told  you  before  it  was  none  of  your  busi 
ness,"  returned  Simon  Musgrave,  sullenly.  "If 
you're  not  careful,  I'll  serve  you  the  same  way!" 

"You  will,  eh?  I  should  like  to  see  you  do  it!" 
replied  Jim  Rawdon,  not  in  the  least  terrified  by 
Musgrave's  threats,  even  if  he  were  the  son  of 
the  head  master. 

Simon  Musgrave  scowled  at  the  intrepid  boy, 
but  he  knew  very  well  that  it  would  not  do  to  treat 
him  as  he  had  Vivian  Bell.  Simon  was  a  born 
bully,  and  bullies  are  generally  cowards. 

He  took  advantage  of  Vivian  Bell's  gentleness, 
but  he  held  in  unwilling  respect  James  RawdoiVs 
strength  and  pluck. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         85 

'Til  report  your  insolence  to  my  father,"  he 
said,  biting  his  nether  lip. 

"Do,"  retorted  Rawdon.  "Go  and  complain  to 
your  pa  like  an  overgrown  baby !" 

Simon  was  in  such  a  passion  that  he  ached  to 
strike  Rawdon,  but  prudence  got  the  better  of  tem 
per,  and  he  refrained. 

Turning  to  Vivian,  he  said:  "You  heard  what 
I  told  you  to  do.  Go  and  do  it!" 

"What  did  you  tell  him  to  do?"  asked  Rawdon. 

"I  told  him  to  go  to  the  village  on  an  errand 
for  me." 

"Why  don't  you  go  yourself?" 

"Because  I  don't  choose  to." 

"I  would  go  if  I  hadn't  a  headache,"  interposed 
Vivian,  putting  his  hand  to  his  head  and  sighing. 
"It's  very  bad." 

"It's  all  put  on,"  said  Simon,  brutally.  "Your 
head  doesn't  ache  any  more  than  mine  does." 

"Indeed,  indeed  it  does!" 

James  Rawdon  listened  to  Simon  with  a  disgust 
for  his  brutality  which  he  did  not  attempt  to  coni 
ceal. 

"Don't  you  go,  Bell,"  he  said.  "I'll  stand  by 
you." 

"Look  here,  Rawdon,  don't  put  in  your  oar! 
You'll  get  into  trouble!" 


86         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Who's  going  to  get  me  into  trouble?" 

"I  am." 

"Come  on,  then!"  and  Jim  Rawdon  put  him 
self  in  an  attitude  of  defence. 

"Oh,  I  sha'n't  touch  you!  I'd  scorn  to  fight 
you;  but  I'll  report  you  and  Bell  to  my  father." 

"I've  been  reported  to  your  father  before  now," 
said  Rawdon,  significantly. 

It  was  quite  true  that  Jim  Rawdon  had  little  to 
fear  from  Dr.  Musgrave.  He  was  a  resolute  and 
determined  boy,  who  would  not  permit  anyone  to 
impose  upon  him. 

His  father  was  a  wealthy  merchant  in  London, 
and  it  so  happened  that  Dr.  Musgrave  was  under 
a  pecuniary  obligation  to  the  senior  Rawdon  to  the 
extent  of  five  hundred  pounds.  These  two  con 
siderations  made  Jim  a  privileged  character. 

Simon,  however,  knew  nothing  of  the  pecuniary 
relations  between  his  father  and  Mr.  Rawdon,  and 
was  now  thoroughly  incensed,  especially  when 
Rawdon,  taking  Vivian  Bell  under  his  protection, 
walked  off  with  him. 

"I'll  go  and  complain  to  my  father!"  exclaimed 
Simon,  wrathfully. 

"Go  along!     Come  with  me,  Vivian!" 

Vivian,  influenced  by  the  older  and  stronger  boy, 
obeyed  him. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         87 

"Now,  Vivian,"  said  Rawdon,  utell  me  why  you 
let  that  brute  impose  upon  you  ?" 

"Because  I  can't  help  it,  Rawdon." 

"That's  something  I  wouldn't  say." 

"You  don't  need  to.  You  are  strong — oh,  so 
strong!"  returned  Vivian,  admiringly. 

"I  am  not  as  strong  as  Dr.  Musgrave,  but  he 
never  touches  me." 

"He  has  flogged  me  often." 

"The  old  brute !  And  yet  you  are  always  gentle 
and  inoffensive." 

"I  try  to  be  good  and  obey  the  rules,  but  the 
doctor  is  always  finding  fault  with  me." 

"That's  his  way." 

"I  can't  seem  to  please  him." 

"Then  why  don't  you  give  it  up?" 

"I  don't  understand  you,  Rawdon." 

"Then  I'll  tell  you,  Vivian.  If  I  were  treated 
as  you  are  I'd  leave  the  school." 

"But  how  can  I?" 

"Who  put  you  here?" 

"My  guardian." 

"Then  why  don't  you  ask  him  to  take  you 
away?" 

"I'll  tell  you  something,  Rawdon,  if  you  won't 
tell." 


88         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Of  course  I  won't  tell !  What  do  you  take  me 
for?" 

"I  wrote  to  my  guardian  four  months  ago.  tell 
ing  him  how  I  was  treated  here." 

"Four  months  ago !  And  haven't  you  had  any 
answer?" 

"No.     You  see,  he  lives  in  Bombay." 

Jim  Rawdon  whistled. 

"Bombay!     That's  a  terrible  distance  off!" 

"Yes.  It  takes  a  long  time  for  a  letter  to  reach 
there.  That's  the  reason  I  haven't  yet  heard  from 
him?" 

'Did  you  ask  him  to  take  you  away?" 

"Yes;  and  I  do  hope  he  will." 

"Very  likely  he  won't.  If  he  lives  so  far  off, 
very  likely  he  won't  take  any  trouble  in  the  mat 
ter." 

"Oh,  I  hope  he  will!" 

"If  I  were  you  I  would  take  the  matter  into  my 
own  hands.  I'd  run  away!" 

Vivian  Bell  almost  gasped  at  the  daring  sug 
gestion. 

"But  what  could  I  do  if  I  did  run  away?  I 
haven't  any  money;  that  is,  I  have  only  half  a 


crown." 


"I've  got  two  half-sovereigns,  and  you  may  have 
one  of  them." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         89 

"You're  awfully  kind,  Rawdon.  Would  you 
really  advise  me  to  run  away?" 

"Yes,  I  would." 

"Where  shall  I  go  first?" 

"There's  a  farmer  four  miles  away  on  the  Bol- 
ton  Road.  His  name  is  Giles  Glover.  Go  there 
and  ask  him  to  keep  you  for  a  couple  of  days. 
You  can  pay  him,  you  know.  Tell  him  I  sent  you. 
He's  a  friend  of  mine." 

"But  after  the  two  days?" 

"I'll  call  over  and  have  a  talk  with  you.  I  can 
ride  with  the  carrier,  so  it  won't  be  any  trouble. 
Then  I'll  arrange  something  for  you.  Perhaps  I 
may  send  you  to  London  with  a  letter  to  my 
father." 

"But  if  the  doctor  catches  me?"  asked  Vivian, 
with  a  shiver. 

"The  doctor  won't  catch  you.  I'll  put  him  off 
the  scent." 

"I  don't  know,  Rawdon.  It  seems  a  very  bold 
thing  to  do." 

The  conversation  was  interrupted  here,  for  Si 
mon  Musgrave  came  up  with  a  triumphant  smile 
on  his  face. 

"Rawdon  and  Bell  are  wanted,"  he  said.  "You 
are  to  report  at  once  to  my  father  at  his  office." 


90         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XI 

AN  INDEPENDENT  PUPIL 

SIMON  MUSGRAVE  walked  away,  not  doubting 
that  the  two  boys  would  obey  orders. 

"What  shall  I  do,  Rawdon?"  asked  Vivian,  in 
a  state  of  nervous  alarm.  uThe  doctor  will  be 
sure  to  flog  me!" 

"Then  don't  go  near  him." 

"But  he  will  come  for  me." 

"Then  mind  you  are  not  to  be  found." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"Go  to  your  room,  get  a  few  underclothes,  and 
run  away.  Remember  where  I  told  you  to  go. 
You  know  where  Farmer  Glover  lives?" 

"Yes." 

"Go  there.    Ask  him  to  keep  you  till  I  come." 

"But  will  he?" 

"I  am  sure  he  will.  He  hates  Dr.  Musgrave, 
who  tried  to  cheat  him  out  of  pay  for  some  hay 
he  bought  of  him.  You'll  find  him  to  be  a  good 
friend." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         91 

"It  seems  a  bold  thing  to  do,  Rawdon,  but  if 
you  say  I  had  better,  I  will  be  guided  by  you." 

"That  is  right.  Now  lose  no  time  in  going  to 
your  room,  and  I  will  delay  matters  so  that  you 
will  have  a  chance  to  get  away." 

"Shall  you  go  to  see  the  doctor?" 

"Yes;  I  am  not  afraid  of  him." 

Jim  Rawdon  loitered  about  the  quadrangle,  and 
it  was  nearly  fifteen  minutes  before  he  presented 
himself  near  the  office.  Simon  had  been  sent  out 
to  look  for  him. 

"Why  don't  you  go  to  my  father's  office?"  he 
demanded. 

"There  is  no  hurry,"  returned  Rawdon,  com 
posedly. 

"You'll  find  out  if  there  isn't.  Pa's  awful  mad; 
I  can  tell  you  that." 

"Then  he'd  better  get  over  it  as  soon  as  pos 
sible.  It  isn't  healthy  for  an  old  man  like  him 
to  get  into  a  rage." 

"I  hope  he'll  flog  you !"  said  Simon,  exasperated 
at  Rawdon's  coolness. 

"You  were  always  kind  and  friendly,  Simon. 
Just  as  sure  as  he  tries  to  flog  me,  I'll  flog  you !" 

"Where  is  Bell?  Has  he  gone  to  the  office?" 
said  Simon,  who  felt  that  Rawdon  would  be  very 
likely  to  carry  out  his  threat. 


92         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"What  have  I  got  to  do  with  Bell?  Isn't  he  in 
the  office  now?" 

"If  he  isn't  it'll  be  worse  for  him.  Pa  isn't  in 
a  humor  to  be  trifled  with." 

Five  minutes  later  Jim  Rawdon  sauntered  into 
the  office  of  Dr.  Musgrave. 

The  doctor  was  sitting  at  his  desk.  His  face 
was  stern  and  wrathful. 

"Where  is  Bell?"  he  asked,  abruptly. 

"I  can't  tell  you,  sir." 

"Wasn't  he  with  you  when  my  son  Simon  sum 
moned  you  to  my  office?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Then  how  is  it  you  don't  know  where  Bell  is?' 

"I  am  not  his  guardian,  Dr.  Musgrave.  We 
separated,  and  I  did  not  trouble  myself  to  see  where 
he  went.  Hasn't  he  been  here  ?" 

"No,  he  hasn't,"  answered  the  doctor,  sharply. 
"How  happens  it  that  you  come  so  late?" 

"Simon  didn't  tell  me  there  was  any  particular 
hurry." 

"My  orders  are  always  to  be  obeyed  at  once!" 

"Very  well,  sir." 

"You'd  better  remember  that  next  time." 

"I  am  here  now.  What  did  you  wish  to  see 
me  about?" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         93 

"I  understand  that  you  have  treated  my  son 
Simon  with  disrespect." 

"Please  be  more  explicit,  sir,"  said  Rawdon,  with 
exasperating  coolness. 

The  doctor  bit  his  lip.  He  felt  that  Rawdon 
was  impertinent,  though  his  language  was  strictly 
respectful. 

"You  interfered  between  him  and  Bell." 

"I  did.  I  saw  that  he  was  bullying  Bell,  and  I 
interfered  to  protect  Bell." 

"What  business  was  it  of  yours?" 

"Sir,"  said  Rawdon,  with  dignity,  "I  am  an 
English  boy,  and  I  can't  stand  by  and  see  a  younger 
boy  bullied  by  an  older  and  stronger  one." 

"Do  you  think  I  will  allow  you  to  interfere 
with  my  son  ?  If  you  had  any  complaints  to  make, 
you  should  have  come  to  me." 

"There  was  no  time  for  it." 

"Simon  tells  me  that  he  asked  Bell  to  go  to  the 
village  on  an  errand  for  him." 

"Bell  had  a  headache,  and  was  not  fit  to  run 
errands." 

"You  could  have  told  me  that." 

"And  in  the  meantime  Bell  would  have  been  on 
his  way  to  the  village." 

"Hark  you,  Rawdon  I  You  are  taking  too  much 
on  yourself!" 


34         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Jim  Rawdon  made  no  reply. 

"And  if  this  continues  I  shall  feel  compelled 
to  flog  you !" 

"I  think  you  had  better  not,  Dr.  Musgrave," 
said  Rawdon,  in  a  significant  tone. 

"Why  not,  sir?"  demanded  the  doctor,  angrily. 

"Because  my  father  won't  permit  it.  He  told 
me  when  I  came  to  school  to  report  to  him  if  you 
laid  your  hand  on  me." 

Dr.  Musgrave  winced.  He  had  reason  to  be 
lieve  that  Jim  told  the  truth,  and  he  knew  that  he 
was  under  obligations  to  the  senior  Rawdon,  who 
might  make  things  uncomfortable. 

"I  don't  allow  any  outsider  to  interfere  with 
my  discipline,"  he  said,  "but  I  will  postpone  your 
case  till  I  have  dealt  with  Bell.  You  say  you  don't 
know  where  he  is?" 

"No,  sir." 

"Have  you  any  idea  where  he  went  when  he 
left  you?" 

"I  think  he  may  have  gone  to  his  room." 

"Did  he  understand  that  I  sent  for  him?" 

"I  presume  so,  Dr.  Musgrave.  I  didn't  ask 
him." 

"You  may  go  to  his  room  and  see  if  he  is  there. 
If  so,  tell  him  to  come  here  directly." 

Rawdon  left  the  office. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         95 

Outside  stood  Simon  Musgrave. 

"Did  my  father  flog  you  ?"  he  asked,  maliciously. 

"You  had  better  ask  him." 

"I  hope  he  did." 

"By  the  way,  Simon,  have  you  seen  Bell?" 

"No." 

"Your  father  thinks  he  may  be  in  his  room. 
Will  you  go  and  tell  him,  if  you  find  him  there, 
that  he  is  to  go  to  the  office?" 

This  was  to  Simon  an  agreeable  errand,  and 
without  asking  whether  it  was  desired  by  the  doctor 
that  he  should  go,  he  set  off  at  once. 

He  returned  in  a  brief  space  of  time,  saying: 

"I  can't  find  him." 

"Then  you  might  tell  your  father;  or  shall  I 
do  so?" 

"I'll  go  in." 

"I've  been  round  to  Bell's  room,  pa,"  he  said, 
"but  he  isn't  there." 

"Inquire  around  among  the  boys  if  anyone  has 
seen  him,"  answered  the  doctor,  frowning. 

"Did  you  flog  Rawdon?"  asked  Simon,  eagerly. 

"Not  yet.    Do  as  I  told  you." 

Inquiry  was  made  among  the  pupils,  but  if  any 
one  had  seen  Vivian  Bell,  no  one  would  give  infor 
mation  on  the  subject. 

At  length  an  under-gardener  said:    "I  seen  him 


96  IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

going  off  Bolton  way.  He  had  a  bundle  under  his 
arm.  He  looked  like  he  was  running  away." 

"Bell  running  away!"  exclaimed  Dr.  Mus- 
grave,  scandalized.  "Why,  he  wouldn't  dare  to 
do  such  a  thing!" 

"You  know  best,  sir,"  said  the  gardener,  hum 
bly. 

"If  he  has  run  away,"  said  Dr.  Musgrave,  set 
ting  his  teeth,  "I'll  half  kill  him  when  I  get  him 
back!" 

Jim  Rawdon  was  summoned  again. 

"Rawdon,"  said  Dr.  Musgrave,  abruptly,  "has 
Bell  ever  said  anything  to  you  about  running 
away?" 

"Has  he  run  away?"  asked  Rawdon,  innocently, 
looking  immensely  surprised. 

"Answer  my  question,  sir." 

"I  can't  say  that  he  has,  sir,  although  he  has 
complained  of  being  badly  treated." 

"No  one  is  badly  treated  here !"  roared  the  doc 
tor,  furiously.  "What  do  you  mean  by  such  an 
insinuation?" 

Jim  Rawdon  did  not  seem  terrified  by  the  doc 
tor's  angry  outburst. 

"I  am  not  saying  he  was  ill  treated,"  he  replied, 
"but " 

"Well?" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         97 

"I  think  he  was." 

"You  are  the  most  impudent  boy  I  have  in  my 
school!  How  dare  you  talk  in  this  way?" 

Rawdon  merely  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

Dr.  Musgrave  wished  he  might  set  off  at  once  in 
pursuit  of  the  missing  pupil,  but  he  could  not  break 
away  from  his  duties. 

"I'll  go  for  him,  pa,"  volunteered  Simon. 

"No;  I  will  wait  till  to-morrow  morning,  and 
go  myself." 

"But  he  may  get  away  for  good  and  all !" 

"He  can't  go  far,  for  he  has  no  money.  I  am 
not  afraid  of  losing  him." 


98         IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XII 

HOW  VIVIAN  ESCAPED 

WHEN  Vivian  Bell  parted  from  Jim  Rawdon  he 
strictly  followed  the  directions  of  his  schoolmate. 
He  went  hurriedly  to  his  room,  made  up  a  bundle 
of  underclothing,  and  then  crossing  the  grounds 
in  nervous  haste,  started  on  the  Bolton  Road. 

He  knew  the  way,  for  he  had  often  gone  in  this 
direction  on  holidays,  usually  with  a  company  of 
his  schoolfellows. 

He  had  hardly  time  to  consider  the  importance 
of  the  step  he  was  taking.  He  was  animated  by 
a  feverish  desire  to  get  as  far  away  as  possible  from 
the  school  where  he  was  ill  treated. 

He  feared  and  detested  the  head  master,  who, 
to  the  best  of  his  remembrance,  had  never  spoken 
a  kindly  word  to  him. 

He  would  never  of  his  own  impulse  have  dared 
to  run  away,  but  the  stronger  will  of  Jim  Rawdon 
dominated  him. 

As  he  hurried  along  on  a  rustic  road  between 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE         99 

two  delightful  hedge-rows,  he  looked  backward 
from  time  to  time  with  nervous  apprehension,  al 
most  expecting  to  see  the  tall,  gaunt  figure  of  Dr. 
Musgrave  following  him  in  hot  pursuit,  or  the 
red  head  and  malicious  face  of  his  young  tormen* 
tor,  Simon. 

But  when  a  mile  away  he  began  to  feel  less  ap 
prehension.  He  was  confident  that  Rawdon  would 
somehow  cover  his  flight  and  put  the  pursuers  oft" 
his  track. 

An  unwonted  sense  of  freedom  came  to  him. 

"Oh,  if  I  could  get  away  entirely  from  Dr.  Mus 
grave  !"  he  thought.  "I  would  be  willing  to  work 
hard.  Perhaps  some  farmer  would  engage  me. 
I  would  not  mind  hard  work  as  long  as  I  was  well 
treated." 

It  is  a  very  serious  thing  when  a  teacher  who 
should  be  the  guardian  and  guide  of  his  pupils 
inspires  dread  and  abhorrence.  It  is  difficult  to 
estimate  how  much  unhappiness  is  occasioned  by 
such  unprincipled  tyrants  as  Dr.  Peter  Musgrave, 
the  head  master  of  Milton  School. 

It  seems  a  pity  that  they  could  not  for  a  time 
change  places  with  some  of  the  pupils  they  abuse, 
as  is  done  in  the  ingenious  story,  "Vice  Versa." 

Vivian  had  walked  about  two  miles  when  he 
was  overtaken  by  the  carrier  in  his  cart. 


100       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

All  the  boys  of  Milton  School  knew  Jack  Hunt, 
who  was  a  good-natured  man  of  middle  age. 

"Where  are  you  going,  Master  Bell?"  asked 
the  carrier,  slackening  his  speed. 

Vivian  turned  round  and  answered:  "Won't 
you  ever  tell,  Jack?" 

"No,  I  won't,"  answered  Jack,  stoutly. 

"Then  I  am  running  away." 

"You  don't  mean  it  now,  Master  Bell?"  ex 
claimed  Jack,  half  incredulous. 

"Yes,  Jack,  it's  true." 

"What!  Running  away  from  the  schoolmas 
ter?" 

"Yes,  Jack." 

"Then  I'll  be  danged  if  I  blame  thee,  lad.  He's 
a  brute,  he  is." 

"He's  treated  me  brutally,  Jack." 

"But  I  say,  Master  Bell,  I  didn't  think  thee  had 
it  in  thee.  Why,  I  didn't  think  thee  had  the  pluck 
to  run  away." 

"I  don't  think  I  would,  Jack,  if  it  hadn't  been 
for  Jim  Rawdon." 

"Ah,  yes,  Rawdon.  He's  a  plucky  lad.  He 
wouldn't  let  the  master  flog  him." 

"No,  I  don't  think  Dr.  Musgrave  ever  flogged 
Rawdon." 

"But  he's  flogged  thee?" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       101 

"Oh,  many  a  time,"  answered  Vivian,  shudder 
ing.  "Oh,  he  has  beat  me  cruelly." 

"I'd  like  to  get  at  him,"  said  Jack,  shutting  his 
teeth  firmly  together.  "I'd  like  to  get  at  him  with 
a  horsewhip,  that  I  would!" 

"But  Simon  is  almost  as  bad." 

"That's  the  schoolmaster's  boy.  I  know  that 
Simon.  He's  got  an  ugly  temper,  he  has.  And 
he's  impudent,  too." 

"Did  you  ever  have  any  trouble  with  him, 
Jack?" 

The  carrier  laughed. 

"He's  had  trouble  with  me,"  he  answered.  "I'll 
tell  you  how  it  was.  I  was  drivin'  along  one  day, 
just  as  you  see  me  now,  when  Simon  came  up,  and, 
just  out  of  ugliness,  picked  up  a  stone  and  fired  it 
at  my  'orse.  Well,  I  wouldn't  stand  that,  you 
know,  so  I  jumps  off  my  cart  and  I  ran  after  the 
boy  whip  in  hand." 

"Did  he  run  away?" 

"No;  he  stood  his  ground.  He  thought  I 
wouldn't  dare  to  hit  him.  So  when  I  said:  'Why 
did  you  go  to  do  that?'  he  answered,  impudent 
like :  'Because  I  chose.'  With  that  I  took  my  whip 
and  slashed  him  about  the  legs  till  he  jumped  and 


swore." 


102       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"You  lashed  Simon  Musgrave?'  asked  Vivian, 
almost  incredulous. 

"Yes,  I  did.  Oh,  wasn't  he  mad,  though!  He 
threatened  that  he  would  tell  his  pa,  and  have  me 
locked  up." 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  that.  It  does  me  good !  And 
you  really  and  truly  lashed  Simon?" 

"Ask  him  if  I  didn't." 

"I  wonder  he  didn't  tell  the  doctor." 

"I  told  him  I  would  have  him  arrested  for  ston 
ing  my  'orse." 

"I  would  like  to  have  been  there." 

Vivian  Bell  was  far  from  being  a  vindictive  boy, 
but  it  seemed  to  do  him  good  to  hear  that  his  per 
sistent  young  persecutor  had  for  once  had  the  same 
treatment  meted  out  to  him  that  he  had  so  often 
inflicted  upon  others. 

"Where  are  you  going,  Master  Bell?"  asked 
the  carrier,  with  a  sudden  thought. 

"Rawdon  told  me  I'd  better  go  to  Farmer  Glov 
er's,  and  ask  him  to  take  me  in  over-night." 

"And  a  good  plan  it  is;  but  you're  only  half  way 
to  Giles  Glover's." 

"I'm  not  tired,  Jack.     I  shall  be  able  to  walk." 

"There's  no  need  of  walking.  I'm  going  all 
the  way  there  myself.  So  just  jump  up  into  my 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       103 

cart,  Master  Bell,  and  I'll  have  you  there  in  a 
jiffy." 

Vivian  was  glad  to  accept  this  offer,  and  in  a 
minute  he  was  in  the  cart,  riding  beside  Jack,  the 
carrier. 

"I  am  afraid  I  will  get  you  into  trouble,  Jack,'* 
said  Vivian,  after  a  pause. 

"Never  you  think  of  that,  Master  Bell.  You 
don't  think  the  doctor'll  be  flogging  me,  do  you, 
now?"  asked  the  carrier,  with  a  broad  grin. 

"No;  I  don't  think  he  would  do  that." 

"I  would  like  to  see  him  try  it,  I  would." 

"But  he  might  refuse  to  employ  you." 

"As  I  am  the  only  carrier  hereabouts  he  wouldn't 
do  that." 

"Well,  you  are  very  kind,  Jack." 

"And  why  wouldn't  I  be?  I'd  help  any  of  the 
schoolboys.  There's  one  thing  I'd  like  to  help 
them  in." 

"And  what's  that?" 

"To  flog  the  schoolmaster.  That  would  be  rare 
fun." 

So  Vivian  Bell  and  his  good  friend  the  carrier 
sped  along  till  they  came  in  sight  of  the  farmhouse 
occupied  by  Giles  Glover. 

It  so  happened  that  the  farmer  himself  was  out 
in  the  yard  when  the  carrier  drove  up. 


104       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

They  greeted  each  other  like  old  friends. 

"And  whom  have  you  got  with  you,  Jack?" 
asked  the  farmer. 

"I've  got  a  boarder  for  you,  farmer." 

"I  don't  understand.  Isn't  this  one  of  Dr.  Mus- 
grave's  boys?" 

"Yes;  and  he's  run  away  from  school." 

"You  don't  say!    And  what  for?" 

"Because  the  doctor  has  been  flogging  him  al 
most  every  day,  till  he's  tired  of  it.  Will  you  take 
him  in  for  a  night?" 

"Aye,  that  I  will !  But  what  are  you  going  to 
do,  lad?" 

"I  will  wait  here  till  Jim  Rawdon  comes.  He 
will  advise  me." 

"Aye !  I  know  Rawdon.  He  is  a  manly  boy, 
Rawdon  is." 

"It  was  he  that  advised  me  to  run  away." 

"But  have  you  any  money,  lad?  You  know 
you  can't  get  along  without  money." 

"Yes,  I  have  a  little  money.  I  will  pay  you  for 
taking  me  in." 

"No,  you  won't,  lad!  Giles  Glover  wants  no 
pay  from  a  poor,  persecuted  lad.  There's  plenty 
to  eat  here,  and  you're  heartily  welcome  to  it.  But 
have  you  nothing  to  live  on  ?  Where  is  your  fath 
er,  lad?" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       105 

"I  have  no  father  nor  mother." 

"Then  who  pays  your  bills  ?" 

"My  guardian." 

"Then  why  don't  you  go  to  him?" 

"I  can't.  He  lives  in  Bombay.  That's  ever  so 
many  thousands  of  miles  off.  I  have  written  to 
him,  and  I  hoped  to  hear  from  him  before  this 
time." 

"Wouldn't  it  have  been  better  to  wait?" 

"I  couldn't,"  said  Vivian,  wearily.  "It  is  four 
months  since  I  wrote." 

"But  how  will  you  get  along?" 

"If  I  can  get  to  London  I  will  go  to  my  guar 
dian's  bankers." 

"Well,  I  will  keep  thee  at  any  rate  for  a  night 
or  two,  and  it  sha'n't  cost  thee  a  penny." 

Soon  after  Vivian's  arrival  he  sat  down  to  a 
plentiful  supper.  He  ate  heartily,  and  his  courage 
rose.  He  was  surrounded  by  humble  but  cordial 
friends,  and  the  atmosphere  of  kindness  was  as 
grateful  as  it  was  new  to  him. 

-But  it  would  not  be  long  before  his  place  of 
concealment  would  be  discovered,  and  his  foes 
be  on  his  track. 


106       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XIII 

DR.    MUSGRAVE   RECEIVES   INFORMATION 

IT  so  happened,  though  Vivian  did  not  know 
it,  that  he  was  seen  riding  with  Jack  the  carrier  by 
a  boy  named  Jarvis,  connected  with  Milton  School. 

Jarvis  was  a  toady  to  Simon,  and  strove  to  in 
gratiate  himself  with  Dr.  Musgrave  by  carrying 
him  tales  of  his  schoolmates. 

Hidden  behind  the  shrubbery,  Jarvis  saw  the 
carrier's  cart  with  Bell  as  passenger. 

He  had  been  to  Bolton  to  call  on  an  aunt. 

On  his  return  to  the  school  he  heard  of  Vivian 
Bell's  disappearance. 

Jarvis  congratulated  himself  on  being  the  first 
to  carry  news  of  his  missing  scholar  to  the  head 
master. 

In  crossing  the  campus  he  fell  in  with  Simon. 

"What's  the  news,  Simon?"  he  asked. 

"Bell  has  run  away!" 

"Do  you  know  where  he  has  gone?" 

"No;  but  pa'll  catch  him,  I'm  sure  of  that.     I 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       107 

wouldn't  like  to  be  in  his  shoes  then,  I  can  tell 
you!" 

"Didn't  anybody  see  him  go?" 

uNo;  I  had  just  told  him  pa  wanted  to  see  him 
in  the  office,  and  I  supposed  he  would  report  there. 
I'll  tell  you  who  knows  something  about  his  going 
away." 

"Who  is  it?" 

"Rawdon.  He  was  with  him,  and  I  feel  sure 
that  he  put  Bell  up  to  running  away." 

"Very  likely.  Bell's  a  milk-and-water  chap.  He 
wouldn't  dare  to  run  away  unless  someone  put  him 
up  to  it.  Have  you  any  idea  in  what  direction  he 
went?" 

"No." 

"Humph!" 

"What  do  you  mean  by  your  mysterious  man 
ner.  Do  you  know  anything  about  his  going  away?" 

"Well,  I  might  have  found  out  something,"  an 
swered  Jarvis. 

"If  you  know  anything  it's  your  duty  to  tell  me 
right  off,"  said  Simon,  imperiously. 

Jarvis,  in  general,  acquiesced  in  anything  that 
Simon  said,  but  he  was  aware  of  the  importance  of 
the  information  he  had  to  offer,  and  chose  to  get 
all  the  credit  himself. 

"Why  is  it  my  duty  to  tell  you?"  he  asked. 


108       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"So  that  I  may  tell  pa." 

"It  will  do  just  as  well  if  I  tell  him." 

"No,  it  won't.  You  tell  me,  and  I  will  go  to 
the  office  at  once  and  tell  pa." 

"There  is  no  need  to  trouble  you,  Simon.  What 
ever  there  is  to  tell  I  can  tell  myself." 

"I  don't  believe  you've  got  anything  to  tell," 
said  Simon,  cunningly. 

"Nothing  much,  only  that  I  saw  Bell  when  he 
was  running  away." 

"Where  did  you  see  him?"  asked  Simon,  eag 
erly. 

"That's  what  I  am  ready  to  tell  your  father." 

Simon  made  another  attempt  to  obtain  the  in 
formation,  but  failing,  he  escorted  Jarvis  to  the 
office  of  Dr.  Musgrave. 

"Pa,"  he  said,  bustling  in,  "there's  some  news 
of  Bell." 

"What  is  it?"  asked  the  master,  looking  up  from 
the  desk. 

"Jarvis  saw  him  running  away." 

Jarvis,  who  had  followed  Simon  into  the  office, 
now  pressed  forward. 

"Well,  Jarvis,  what  have  you  to  tell?"  asked 
the  doctor. 

"This  afternoon  I  saw  Bell  riding  over  the  Bol- 
ton  Road  with  Jack  Hunt,  the  carrier." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       109 

"Ha !  that  man  is  in  it !  I  am  not  surprised. 
His  influence  over  my  pupils  is  very  demoralizing. 
He  will  get  into  trouble  if  he  is  not  very  careful." 

"Can't  you  have  him  arrested,  pa?"  said  Simon, 
who  had  a  grievance  of  his  own  against  the  inde 
pendent  carrier. 

"That  depends  on  his  connection  with  the  affair. 
In  what  direction  was  the  carrier  going?" 

"Toward  Bolton,  sir." 

"Did  he  or  Bell  see  you?" 

"No,  sir.     I  was  hiding  behind  the  hedge." 

"What  else  did  you  see?" 

"Bell  had  a  bundle  with  him." 

"Ha  !  a  bundle  of  clothes,  no  doubt !  What  time 
was  this?" 

Jarvis  mentioned  the  hour. 

"He  must  have  started  about  the  time  I  told 
him  to  go  to  your  office,  pa." 

"Probably.  Simon,  do  you  know  where  the 
carrier  lives?" 

"Yes,  pa." 

"What  time  does  he  get  back  from  Bolton?" 

"About  six  o'clock." 

"Very  well;  go  there  at  that  time  and  ask  him 
to  step  around  to  see  me." 

"All  right,  pa." 

This  was  an  errand  which  Simon  enjoyed.    He 


110       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

reached  the  carrier's  house  just  as  Jack  was  unhar 
nessing  his  horse. 

UI  say,  Jack,"  he  began,  "pa  wants  to  see  you 
right  off." 

"Does  he?"  returned  the  carrier.  "You  can 
tell  him  where  I  am.  If  he  will  come  round  here 
he  can  see  me." 

"He  wants  to  see  you  at  his  office." 

"Well,  I  haven't  time  to  go  there.  My  supper 
is  waiting  for  me.  Do  you  know  what  he  wants 
to  see  me  about?" 

"Yes;  it's  about  Bell.  He  was  seen  riding  with 
you  this  afternoon." 

"Oh,  he  was,  was  he?  Did  you  see  him  riding 
with  me?" 

"No,  but  Jarvis  did;  so  there's  no  use  of  your 
denying  it." 

"I  don't  deny  it.  Master  Bell  is  always  welcome 
to  ride  with  me,  but  I  wouldn't  take  you  on  my  cart, 
nor  yet  that  Jarvis." 

"I  say,  you'd  better  be  careful.  Pa  ain't  going 
to  have  you  he4p  his  boys  run  away." 

"Who's  run  away?"  asked  Jack,  innocently. 

"Why,  Bell,  of  course.  You  don't  mean  to  say 
you  didn't  know  it?" 

"Master  Bell  run  away!     You  don't  mean  it! 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       111 

Why  should  he  run  away  from  such  a  kind  man 
as  your  father?" 

"Because  he  was  a  bad  boy.  He  always  dis 
obeyed  the  rules,"  said  Simon,  sharply. 

"You  don't  mean  to  tell  me  so !  And  I  thought 
he  was  such  a  good,  quiet  boy." 

"Where  did  you  leave  him?" 

"Where  did  I  leave  him?  I  didn't  leave  him 
anywhere.  He  left  me." 

"Where  was  it?" 

"On  the  road." 

"Did  he  tell  you  where  he  expected  to  spend  the 
night?" 

"He  might,  and  again  he  mightn't.  I  am  so  for 
getful  that  I  never  minds  what's  told  me.  It  just 
goes  into  one  ear  and  out  of  the  other." 

Finding  he  could  get  no  certain  information  out 
of  the  carrier,  Simon  started  to  go,  threatening  him 
with  arrest  for  conniving  at  the  escape  of  Vivian 
Bell. 

"You  don't  really  think  your  pa  would  have  me 
arrested,  do  you,  Simon?"  asked  the  carrier,  pre 
tending  to  be  very  much  frightened. 

"You  just  see!" 

"You'll  speak  a  good  word  for  me,  won't  you? 
You  see  it  would  be  bad  for  my  business  to  be  ar 
rested." 


112       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"You  ought  to  have  thought  of  that,"  said  Si 
mon,  under  the  impression  that  Jack  was  weaken 
ing.  "Your  only  course  is  to  tell  pa  all  you  know 
about  Bell,  and  just  where  he's  gone." 

"I  remember  now  he  told  me  where  he  was  go 
ing." 

"Where?"  asked  Simon,  eagerly. 

"To  London." 

"To  London!"  repeated  Simon,  in  disgust. 
"Why,  he'd  have  to  walk  all  the  way!" 

"I  don't  know  anything  about  that." 

"Why  didn't  you  turn  right  round  and  bring 
him  back  to  the  school?  Pa'd  have  given  you.  a 
sixpence." 

"Would  he,  now?" 

"Yes;  I  am  sure  he  would." 

"I  can't  leave  my  business  for  any  such  trifle  as 
a  sixpence.  Besides,  it  wasn't  any  of  my  business 
carrying  back  your  father's  runaway  scholars." 

"Perhaps  you'll  change  your  mind,  Mr.  Jack." 

"I'll  make  one  promise." 

"What's  that?" 

"If  I  ever  see  you  running  away  I'll  carry  you 
back." 

Simon  did  not  deign  a  reply  to  this,  but  turning 
on  his  heel  walked  out  of  the  yard. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       113 

As  he  left,  he  said :  "You'd  better  go  round  and 
see  pa  after  supper." 

uHe  knows  where  he  can  find  me,"  returned  the 
carrier,  in  a  sturdy  tone. 

Arrived  at  the  school,  Simon  went  at  once  to 
his  father's  study,  and  reported  that  the  carrier 
would  not  obey  his  command. 

"Never  mind,  Simon,"  said  Dr.  Musgrave. 
"The  grocer  has  just  been  here  and  told  me  that 
Bell  is  staying  at  Giles  Glover's  farm.  I  shall  go 
for  him  to-morrow  morning." 


114       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XIV 

GUY  FENWICK  REACHES  MILTON  SCHOOL 

GUY  FENWICK,  accompanied  by  his  friend  and 
fellow  passenger,  August  Locke,  started  from  Lon 
don  early  in  the  morning,  bound  for  Milton. 

Reaching  the  station,  Locke  proposed  to  Guy  to 
walk  to  the  school. 

"It  is  only  half  a  mile,"  he  said,  "and  it  will 
be  a  pleasure  to  me  to  take  a  leisurely  stroll  over 
the  road  that  was  once  so  familiar  to  me." 

"I  am  quite  willing,"  said  Guy.  "It  is  a  charm 
ing  morning,  and  the  country  is  beautiful." 

"More  so  than  America?" 

"I  must  confess,"  said  Guy,  "that  I  know  of 
no  landscape  in  America  that  equals  the  charm  of 
an  English  village." 

It  was  a  bright,  sunshiny  day.  The  hedge-rows 
were  a  dark  green.  They  passed  a  church  over 
grown  with  ivy,  and  the  air  was  perfumed  by  sweet 
flowers. 

"How  often  I  have  been  over  this  road,"  said 
August  Locke. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       115 

"Did  you  enjoy  your  schooldays,  Mr.  Locke?" 

"I  should  have  done  so  if  we  had  had  a  better 
teacher.  Dr.  Musgrave's  tyranny  spoiled  all." 

"Did  he  abuse  you?" 

"As  much  as  he  dared;  but  when  he  went  too 
far  my  temper  got  the  better  of  me,  and  I  was 
ready  for  anything.  I  think  he  knew  that,  for  he 
did  not  treat  me  as  badly  as  some  of  his  pupils 
who  were  more  timid.  How  are  your  American 
schools?" 

"No  doubt  we  have  some  tyrannical  teachers, 
but  the  one  whose  school  I  attended  was  a  gentle 
man.  He  was  firm  and  yet  gentle,  and  all  we  boys 
respected  and  liked  him." 

"With  such  a  teacher  as  you  describe  Milton 
School  would  be  a  paradise." 

"I  don't  see  how  Dr.  Musgrave  can  retain  his 
position.  Does  he  own  the  school  ?" 

"No;  he  is  employed  by  the  directors.  Most  of 
them  live  at  a  distance,  and  know  nothing  of  his 
administration.  If  complaints  were  made  to  them 
they  would  pay  no  attention  to  them.  They  would 
take  the  ground  that  there  is  a  natural  antagonism 
between  pupils  and  teachers." 

"So  the  poor  boys  have  little  hope  of  having 
their  wrongs  redressed?" 

"You  are  about  right." 


116       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

The  distance  between  the  station  and  the  school 
was  so  short  that  by  the  time  their  conversation 
was  over  they  had  nearly  reached  the  gate  that  led 
into  the  school-ground. 

"It  looks  just  as  it  did  when  I  left,"  said  August 
Locke,  surveying  the  building  and  campus  with  in 
terest.  "I  can  almost  imagine  that  it  was  only 
yesterday  I  went  away." 

"Except  when  you  look  in  the  glass." 

"Yes;  I  have  grown  from  a  boy  into  a  man  of 
twenty-five.  I  should  be  more  than  a  match  for 
old  Musgrave  now,"  and  the  young  man  regarded 
with  satisfaction  his  muscular  arms  and  well-knit 
figure. 

"Really,"  he  added,  "I  shouldn't  mind  if  there 
were  occasion,  having  a  tussle  with  the  old  fellow. 
I  fancy  he  wouldn't  stand  long  before  his  old  pu- 

pii." 

There  were  several  boys  scattered  about  the 
campus. 

August  Locke  and  Guy  catered,  and  looked 
about  them  for  someone  whom  they  could  interro 
gate. 

The  nearest  was  a  stout,  well-knit  boy,  with  a 
strong,  resolute  face,  and  a  frank  expression.  In 
fact,  it  was  Jim  Rawdon,  already  introduced  as  the 
friend  and  adviser  of.  Vivian  Bell. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       117 

"My  boy,"  said  Locke,  with  pleasant  courtesy, 
"can  you  tell  me  if  Dr.  Musgrave  is  in  his  office?" 

"No,  sir;  not  this  morning." 

"Isn't  that  rather  strange — at  this  hour?  You 
see,  I  am  an  old  pupil,  and  haven't  forgotten  the 
ways  of  the  place." 

"He  is  usually  here,  sir;  but  he  made  an  early 
start  to  hunt  up  a  pupil  who  ran  away  a  day  or 
two  since." 

"What  is  the  name  of  the  pupil?"  asked  Guy, 
quickly. 

"Vivian  Bell." 

"I  thought  so,"  said  Guy. 

"Are  you  a  friend  of  Bell?"  asked  Rawdon. 

"Yes;  I  am  more  than  a  friend,  though  I  never 
saw  him.  I  am  sent  here  by  his  guardian." 

"But  I  thought  his  guardian  lived  in  Bombay?" 

"So  he  does;  but  I  come  from  Bombay." 

"I  am  glad  of  it,"  said  Rawdon. 

"Are  you  a  friend  of  Vivian?"  asked  Guy. 

"Yes;  I  am  about  the  only  friend  the  poor  boy 
has  in  this  place." 

"Do  you  mean  that  he  is  generally  unpopular?" 

"No;  we  all  like  him;  but  I  am  the  only  one 
who  dares  stand  up  for  him." 

"His  guardian  received  a  letter  complaining  that 
he  was  ill  treated  by  the  head  master." 


118       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"That  is  true  enough.  He  has  been  very  badly 
treated." 

"Why?    Isn't  he  a  good  boy?" 

"Yes.  The  trouble  is  that  he  is  too  good  and 
gentle.  Dr.  Musgrave  felt  that  it  would  be  safe 
to  bully  him,  and  he  has  done  so." 

"You  are  not  giving  Dr.  Musgrave  a  very  good 
character." 

"He  doesn't  deserve  one." 

"In  what  way  has  Vivian  been  ill  treated?" 

"He  has  been  flogged  two  or  three  times  a  week 
on  an  average." 

"Without  deserving  it?" 

"Yes." 

"What  excuse  can  the  doctor  have  for  flogging 
him?" 

"Well,  to  begin  with,  Simon  is  down  upon  him." 

"Who  is  Simon?" 

"Simon  Musgrave,  the  doctor's  son.  He's  as 
bad  as  his  father,  and  I  don't  know  but  worse." 

"Have  you  had  anything  to  complain  of?" 

"No.  He  doesn't  dare  to  meddle  with  me.  I 
thrashed  him  once  so  effectually  that  he  thinks  it 
wisest  to  let  me  alone." 

"Coming  back  to  Vivian,  you  say  that  Dr.  Mus 
grave  has  gone  in  search  of  him?" 

"Yes;  he  started  early,  accompanied  by  Simon." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       119 

"Then  I  suppose  he  had  information  as  to  his 
whereabouts?" 

"Yes.  He  heard  that  he  was  at  Giles  Glover's 
farm,  about  four  miles  away." 

"Will  he  probably  find  him  there?" 

"I  am  afraid  so.  It  was  I  who  advised  him  to 
run  away,  and  I  told  him  to  go  to  Giles  Glover's." 

"Perhaps  he  may  have  left  there." 

"No.  He  was  to  wait  till  I  got  a  chance  to  go 
and  see  him.  I  haven't  had  any  chance  yet.  Bell 
is  a  timid  boy,  and  he  wouldn't  know  where  to  go. 
I  meant  to  start  him  to  London  to  see  his  guar 
dian's  bankers." 

"Let  me  shake  hands  with  you,"  said  Guy,  im 
pulsively.  "I  am  proud  to  know  you.  You  have 
had  the  courage  to  be  a  friend  to  a  boy  who  was 
badly  abused.  What  is  your  name?" 

"Jim  Rawdon." 

"Mine  is  Guy  Fenwick.  I  am  an  American 
boy." 

"And  yet  you  are  sent  here  by  Bell's  guardian," 
said  Rawdon,  in  surprise. 

"Yes.    It  is  too  long  a  story  to  explain  now." 

"I  like  you,  even  if  you  are  not  English,"  said 
Rawdon.  "Do  what  you  can  for  Bell." 

"That  is  what  I  have  come  here  for.  What 
will  happen  if  Dr.  Musgrave  captures  him?" 


120       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"He  will  flog  Bell  before  the  whole  school, 
worse  than  he  ever  did  before/* 

"You  may  rest  assured  that  he  won't  do  that," 
said  August  Locke.  "I  think  I  shall  have  some 
thing  to  say." 

Jim  Rawdon's  face  glowed  with  pleasure. 

"I'm  glad  to  hear  that,"  he  said.  "Oh,  won't 
there  be  a  high  old  time!" 

"I  fancy  there  will.  I  was  once  a  pupil  of  Dr. 
Musgrave,  and  I  owe  him  a  few  returns  for  past 
favors.  Does  he  often  flog  you  ?" 

"He  never  has  yet,"  said  Rawdon.  "He  knows 
that  my  father  would  take  me  away  instantly  if  he 
tried  it.  Besides — I  don't  mind  telling  you  two — 
he  owes  my  father  borrowed  money,  and  that 
makes  him  cautious." 

"I  am  glad  that  you,  at  any  rate,  are  safe.  So 
Simon  is  no  improvement  on  his  father?" 

"No.  If  you  were  here  as  a  pupil,  how  is  it  you 
don't  remember  Simon?" 

"He  was  only  a  small  boy  then,  perhaps  six  years 
old,  and  I  was  not  likely  to  know  anything  of  him." 

"Shall  you  stay  here  till  the  doctor  returns?" 

"Yes.  It  will  be  our  best  course.  You  don't 
think  the  doctor  will  attempt  to  punish  Bell  before 
he  gets  him  back?" 

"No.     That  isn't  his  way.     He  will  call  the 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       121 

school  together,  and  give  him  a  cruel  flogging 
before  all  the  boys.  I  have  often  seen  such  punish 
ment,  and  it  makes  my  blood  boil;  but  what  could 
I  do?" 

Five  minutes  later  Rawdon  called  out  in  excite 
ment: 

"There  comes  the  doctor  1  Simon  and  Bell  are 
with  him  1" 

August  Locke  and  Guy  looked  up  the  road.  A 
wagon  was  approaching,  drawn  by  a  bony-looking 
horse. 

Simon  was  driving.  On  the  back  seat  was  Dr. 
Musgrave,  tall,  thin,  with  a  stern-looking  visage, 
and  beside  him  Vivian  Bell,  his  face  red  and  tear- 
fill. 

He  well  knew  what  a  terrible  punishment  await 
ed  him. 


122       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XV 

DR.  MUSGRAVE'S  HUMILIATION 

DR.  MUSGRAVE  was  so  occupied  with  thoughts 
of  the  punishment  that  he  proposed  to  inflict  on 
the  poor  boy  whom  he  had  captured  that  he  did 
not  notice  the  visitors,  who  stood  at  one  side  of  the 
path  leading  to  his  office. 

Simon  brought  up  the  wagon  in  front  of  the 
gate. 

Dr.  Musgrave  jumped  out,  and  then  extended 
his  hand  to  Vivian  Bell. 

"Give  me  your  hand!"  he  said  gruffly. 

The  poor  boy  tremblingly  held  out  his  hand, 
which  was  grasped  roughly  by  the  tyrant.  He  was 
jerked  out  with  no  gentle  motion. 

"Now,  Simon,  give  me  the  whip!" 

Dr.  Musgrave  grasped  it,  and  seizing  Vivian 
by  the  collar,  began  to  push  him  before  him  up 
the  path. 

Guy  and  August  Locke  looked  on  in  disgust  and 
anger. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       123 

"Speak  to  him,  Mr.  Locke,"  whispered  Guy. 

"Dr.  Musgrave!"  said  August,  in  a  clear,  cold 
voice. 

Then  for  the  first  time  the  head  master  turned 
his  attention  to  the  newcomers. 

"I  will  be  at  your  service  in  a  few  moments," 
he  said,  waving  his  hand. 

He  thought  that  August  Locke  wished  to  enter 
Guy  at  his  school. 

"That  will  not  do,  Dr.  Musgrave.  I  wish  your 
attention  now!" 

Dr.  Musgrave,  whose  temper  was  none  of  the 
best,  took  umbrage  at  this. 

"You  will  have  to  wait!"  he  said,  sharply.  "I 
have  to  mete  out  justice  to  this  young  rascal,  who 
had  the  audacity  to  run  away  from  me.  I  have 
just  recovered  him,  and  I  intend  to  flog  him  in 
the  presence  of  the  school.  You  can  be  present,  if 
you  like." 

"Dr.  Musgrave,"  said  Locke,  sternly,  "this  flog 
ging  shall  not  take  place!" 

"What!"  exclaimed  the  head  master,  with  blaz 
ing  eyes.  "Do  you  come  here  to  interfere  with  my 
discipline?" 

"I  do;  or  rather  we  do." 

"I  never  heard  of  such  audacity!"  exclaimed  Dr. 
Musgrave,  fairly  aghast. 


124       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Is -not  this  boy  Vivian  Bell?" 

"Yes." 

"Then  you  shall  not  flog  him  1" 

Dr.  Musgrave  was  exasperated  beyond  endur 
ance.  He  had  been  accustomed  to  move  among  his 
pupils  like  an  Eastern  despot,  with  no  one  bold 
enough  to  oppose  him. 

"This  is  my  answer,"  he  said,  grasping  the  whip, 
and  lashing  Vivian  across  the  legs,  eliciting  a  cry 
of  pain. 

"And  this  is  mine !"  said  August  Locke. 

He  snatched  the  whip  from  the  head  master, 
grasped  him  by  the  collar,  and  with  all  the  strength 
he  possessed  rained  down  blows  across  the  teacher's 
legs. 

Dr.  Musgrave  shrieked  with  anger  and  dismay. 
As  he  did  so  he  let  go  of  Vivian  Bell. 

Guy  instantly  drew  the  trembling  boy  to  his 
side. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  this  outrage?"  demand 
ed  Dr.  Musgrave.  "Give  me  back  that  whip  I" 

"You  cannot  be  trusted  with  it,"  said  Locke, 
coolly. 

Dr.  Musgrave,  fairly  boiling  with  passion,  made 
a  spring  for  Vivian,  but  August  Locke  anticipated 
the  movement,  and  brought  down  the  whip  over  the 
head  master's  shoulders. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE        125 

"Boys,  come  to  the  help  of  your  teacher!" 
shrieked  Musgrave. 

Not  a  boy  stirred  except  Simon. 

He  ran  forward,  and  tried  to  attack  Vivian 
Bell. 

Guy  let  go  of  Vivian,  and  with  a  well-directed 
blow  stretched  Simon  on  the  ground. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  this  outrage?  Who  arc 
you?"  asked  the  head  master,  pale  and  agitated. 

"I,  sir,  am  August  Locke,  once  your  pupil,"  re 
plied  Locke.  "I  am  paying  you  off  for  some  of 
your  former  brutality." 

"I  will  have  you  arrested — yes,  and  you,  too !" 
shaking  his  head  at  Guy. 

"Let  me  introduce  my  young  companion,  Dr. 
Musgrave,"  went  on  Locke.  "He  is  Master  Guy 
Fenwick.  He  comes  here  as  the  agent  of  Mr.  John 
Saunders,  of  Bombay,  the  guardian  of  Vivian 
Bell." 

"Is  this  true?"  asked  the  head  master,  bewil 
dered  and  incredulous. 

"Yes,  sir,"  answered  Guy.  "I  came  here  to  find 
out  how  the  boy  was  treated,  but  I  have  seen  for 
myself.  I  withdraw  him  from  your  school.  He 
is  no  longer  a  pupil  of  yours!" 

Vivian  Bell's  expression  changed  at  once.  He 
looked  overjoyed. 


126       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Oh  The  said,  uis  this  true  ?" 

"Yes,"  answered  Guy,  putting  his  hand  caress 
ingly  on  the  boy's  shoulder.  "I  shall  take  you 
away  with  me." 

Dr.  Musgrave,  though  still  shaking  with  anger, 
was  not  wholly  destitute  of  prudence. 

"Gentlemen,"  he  said,  "before  anything  is  de 
cided  upon,  I  wish  to  explain  that  this  boy  has 
committed  a  daring  act  of  rebellion,  an  act  which 
merits  summary  punishment." 

Vivian  looked  up  nervously  into  Guy's  face,  but 
the  expression  he  saw  there  reassured  him. 

"Yes,  sir;  he  ran  away,"  said  August  Locke, 
"and  any  boy  would  be  justified  in  running  away 
under  the  circumstances." 

"Sir,"  said  Dr.  Musgrave,  striving  to  recover 
some  of  his  lost  dignity,  "in  a  school  like  this  there 
must  be  discipline." 

"Yes,  but  not  brutality." 

"You  have  evidently  been  misinformed  as  to 
the  character  of  my  discipline.  It  is  firm,  but 
parental." 

"Dr.  Musgrave,"  retorted  August  Locke,  with 
a  disgust  which  he  could  not  conceal,  "you  forget 
that  I  was  a  former  pupil  of  yours.  Of  all  the 
abominable  tyrants  to  be  found  in  English  schools, 
I  think  you  carry  off  the  palm." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       127 

"I  had  hoped,  Mr.  Locke — I  remember  you 
new — that  your  maturer  judgment  would  have  en 
abled  you  to  understand  the  reason  of  my  occa 
sional  severity.  My  own  conscience  justifies  me  in 
what  I  have  done." 

"Then  you  have  a  peculiar  conscience;  that  is 
all  I  have  to  say." 

"If  this  boy — as  I  can  hardly  believe — repre 
sents  Bell's  guardian,  I  will  describe  to  him  the 
flagrant  acts  of  disobedience  of  which  his  ward  has 
been  guilty.  Surely  he  will  not  justify  a  pupil  in 
running  away  from  his  school !" 

"Under  the  circumstances  I  do,  sir." 

"I  trust  you  will  leave  Bell  here  till  the  end  of 
the  term,  four  weeks  hence." 

Vivian  Bell  looked  alarmed. 

"I  must  decline  to  do  so,  Dr.  Musgrave." 

"I  shall,  under  the  rules  of  the  school,  charge  to 
the  end  of  the  term." 

"You  can  do  so,  sir,  but  I  shall  withdraw  Vivian 
to-day." 

"I  claim  the  right,  before  he  leaves,  to  inflict 
punishment  for  the  act  of  rebellion  of  which  he  has 
been  guilty." 

"So  it  would  afford  you  satisfaction  to  flog  him, 
Dr.  Musgrave?"  said  August  Locke,  with  a  sarcas 
tic  smile. 


128       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

uNo,  sir.  I  am  always  pained  when  I  have  to 
chastise  a  pupil,  but  it  is  necessary  to  the  mainten 
ance  of  my  authority  over  the  other  boys  that  Bell's 
offense  should  not  go  unpunished." 

"Your  authority  will  have  to  take  care  of  itself, 
Dr.  Musgrave.  You  are  fortunate  that  I  do  not 
punish  you  for  your  past  brutality!" 

"Mr.  Locke,  a  higher-handed  outrage  was  never 
perpetrated  than  your  interference  with  my  au 
thority,  and  your  assault  upon  myself. 

"You  are  quite  welcome  to  take  any  view  of 
it  you  choose.  Guy,  I  think  you  ought  to  take 
immediate  steps  toward  the  withdrawal  of  your 
young  ward." 

"Dr.  Musgrave,  will  you  direct  that  my  ward's 
trunk  be  packed,  and  all  made  ready  for  his  de 
parture?  When  this  is  done  I  will  settle  your 
bill." 

"I  protest  once  more  against  your  remarkable 
proceedings.  I  shall  write  to  Mr.  Saunders  and 
complain  of  them." 

"You  are  at  liberty  to  do  so.  In  the  meanwhile, 
please  have  the  boy's  clothes  packed." 

The  humiliation  of  Dr.  Musgrave  was  the  great 
er  because  nearly  all  his  pupils  had  been  witnesses 
of  it.  Though  they  had  not  manifested  their  feel 
ings  in  any  way,  there  was  not  one,  except  Simon, 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       129 

his  son,  who  was  not  rejoiced  when  they  saw  the 
tables  turned  upon  their  tyrannical  teacher. 

Dr.  Musgrave  hesitated,  but  Guy's  bold,  resolute 
bearing  convinced  him  that  opposition  would  be 
useless. 

If  he  con-Id  have  retained  Vivian  Bell  to  the  end 
of  the  term  he  would  have  had  an  opportunity  to 
make  him  suffer,  and  thus  obtained  some  satisfac 
tion;  but  Guy  saw  through  his  scheme,  and  reso 
lutely  vetoed  it.  He  would  not  allow  Vivian  to 
remain  an  hour  longer,  but  declared  his  intention 
of  taking  him  away  with  him  at  once. 

When  the  doctor  went  inside  to  give  orders 
about  packing  Vivian's  trunk,  Jim  Rawdon  went 
up  to  Guy  and  shook  hands  with  him. 

"You  are  a  brave  boy,"  he  said.  "I  never 
enjoyed  myself  more  than  I  have  in  the  last  half 
hour.  It  was  fun  to  see  the  doctor  under  the 
lash." 

"I  wish  you  could  leave  the  school,  too,"  said 
Guy. 

"I  shall  soon.  I  am  in  no  danger  of  a  flogging, 
though.  The  doctor  doesn't  dare  to  flog  me." 


130       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XVI 

GUY  FINISHES  UP  HIS  BUSINESS  IN  LONDON 

WHEN  Vivian  Bell  found  himself  on  a  railroad 
train,  in  the  company  of  his  new  friends,  hound 
for  London,  he  was  like  one  from  whom  a  heavy 
burden  had  been  lifted.  He  became  light-hearted 
and  lively. 

"I  am  so  happy,"  he  said,  impulsively. 

"I  am  afraid  you  have  never  been  very  happf 
at  the  school,"  returned  Guy. 

"No,  never!  Dr.  Musgrave  has  always  been 
unkind  to  me,"  said  Vivian,  with  a  shudder. 

"He  would  probably  have  punished  you  very 
severely  if  we  had  not  made  our  appearance." 

"He  would  have  almost  killed  me.  He  was 
frightfully  angry  at  my  running  away.  How  strong 
your  friend  is,"  he  added,  looking  at  August  Locke 
admiringly. 

August  smiled.  He  was  human,  and  he  was 
pleased  with  the  compliment. 

"I  think  I  was  too  much  for  the  doctor,"  he  saidv 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       131 

"but  the  time  was  when  he  had  the  advantage  of 
me.  I  have  been  flogged  more  than  once  in  my 
schooldays;  but  I  fancy  I  deserved  it  more  than 
you.  You  don't  look  to  me  like  a  very  bad  boy." 

"The  doctor  said  I  was,  but  indeed  I  tried  to 
do  my  duty.  Yet  he  was  always  flogging  me." 

"Rawdon  was  your  friend,  was  he  not?" 

"Yes;  he  was  my  only  friend.  He  was  always 
ready  to  stand  up  for  me." 

"The  doctor  never  flogged  him?" 

"No;  I  don't  see  why,  for  he  wasn't  a  model 
boy,  though  he  was  a  good  friend  to  me." 

"He  seemed  like  a  trump.  I'm  sorry  I  didn't 
tip  him.  I  say,  Guy,  I  mean  to  send  him  a  couple 
of  guineas,  just  to  show  my  appreciation  of  his 
pluck  and  friendship  for  your  ward." 

"No;  it  is  I  who  ought  to  do  that." 

"We'll  do  it  together." 

For  a  few  days  Guy  kept  Vivian  with  him  at 
the  hotel.  He  set  himself  to  explore  London,  vis 
iting  all  the  noted  places  usually  sought  by  stran 
gers,  and  this  the  boy  thoroughly  enjoyed. 

Guy  determined  to  give  him  some  pleasure  after 
his  long  thraldom  at  school. 

On  the  sixth  day,  in  walking  up  the  Strand,  he 
and  Vivian  were  surprised  to  meet  Jim  Rawdon. 

Rawdon  saw  them  first. 


132       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Hallo,  you  two !  I  was  in  hopes  to  meet  you," 
he  said. 

"But  how  do  you  happen  to  be  in  London  ?" 
asked  Guy.  "You  haven't  run  away  from  school, 
have  you?" 

"Not  exactly;  but  it  amounts  to  the  same  thing, 
except  that  my  father  is  satisfied  with  my  leaving." 

"Tell  me  all  about  it." 

"Well,  it  was  this  way.  After  you  took  Bell 
away  the  doctor  was  fearfully  cross.  He  was 
ashamed  to  think  we  boys  had  seen  his  downfall, 
and  as  you  were  not  there  he  vented  his  anger  on 
us.  There  were  never  so  many  boys  flogged  in  the 
same  length  of  time  before." 

"Did  you  receive  the  money  Mr.  Locke  and  my 
self  sent  you  ?" 

"Yes,  and  it  got  me  into  trouble.  You  see,  the 
doctor  heard  of  it,  and  it  set  him  to  thinking. 
Finally  he  found  out,  by  the  help  of  that  sneaking 
son  of  his,  that  I  had  encouraged  Bell  to  run  away. 
He  was  almost  beside  himself  with  anger,  and 
made  up  his  mind  to  do  what  he  had  never  done 
before;  that  is,  give  me  a  flogging." 

"I  hope  he  didn't  do  it,"  said  Guy,  hastily. 

"Listen,  and  I  will  tell  you  all  about  it.  He  sum 
moned  me  before  the  whole  school,  and  made  a 
short  speech.  Barnes  Rawdon,'  he  said,  'I  have 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       133 

spared  you  heretofore  on  account  of  your  excellent 
father,  but  I  find  that  you  aided  and  abetted  your 
schoolmate  Bell  to  run  away  in  defiance  of  my 
rightful  authority.  Did  you,  or  did  you  not?' 

"  T  did,'  I  answered.  'The  boy  was  so  brutally 
treated  that  he  had  good  reason  to  run  away.' 

'  'I  never  heard  such  insolence !'  roared  the  doc 
tor,  his  eyes  blazing.  'Take  off  your  jacket !' 

"  Thank  you,  sir,'  I  replied,  Td  rather  keep  it 
on.' 

"He  lost  all  control  of  himself  then,  and  sprang 
for  me  with  the  whip.  My  father  had  told  me  nev 
er  to  submit  to  a  flogging,  so  I  grabbed  for  the 
whip,  and  we  had  a  struggle  for  it. 

"I  managed  to  break  his  spectacles,  and  con 
vinced  him  that  I  was  pretty  strong  for  a  boy.  But 
what  frightened  him  most  was  this — I  pulled  out  a 
toy  pistol  from  my  pocket,  and  the  doctor  became 
pale  as  a  sheet. 

"  Tut  that  down,  sir!'  he  cried.  'I  will  dispose 
of  your  case  to-morrow !' 

"That  was  all  I  wanted.  That  very  evening  I 
walked  to  the  station  and  took  the  cars  for  London, 
buying  my  ticket  with  the  money  you  sent  me. 
When  I  told  my  father  what  led  me  to  leave  the 
school  he  told  me  I  had  done  right,  and  he  sent 


134       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

the  doctor  a  letter  which  he  won't  be  very  glad  to 
read." 

"Dr.  Musgrave  seems  to  be  a  very  unwise  man," 
said  Guy. 

"All  the  boys  are  getting  dissatisfied,"  rejoined 
Rawdon.  "I  know  four  who  have  written  to  their 
fathers  to  take  them  away.  Dr.  Musgrave  will 
soon  find  himself  deserted." 

On  this  point  we  will  anticipate  matters  a  little 
by  saying  that  Rawdon's  statement  proved  prophet 
ic.  Dr.  Musgrave's  temper  was  so  aggravated  by 
what  had  occurred  that  he  increased  his  severity 
to  such  an  extent  as  to  induce  a  rebellion  of  the 
pupils. 

The  directors  were  finally  obliged  to  take  cog 
nizance  of  the  complaints  made  by  parents,  and 
the  result  was  that  Dr.  Musgrave  was  removed 
from  the  post  of  head  master.  He  found  it  im 
possible  to  get  another  position,  and  was  compelled 
to  live,  or  attempt  to  live,  on  the  income  of  a  small 
sum  which  he  had  been  able  to  accumulate  in  his 
twenty  years'  service. 

His  successor  was  a  man  of  high  scholarship 
and  enlightened  views,  who  had  assisted  Dr.  Ar 
nold  at  Rugby  School. 

Under  his  charge  the  school  regained  its  lost 
popularity.  For  his  humiliation  Dr.  Musgrave, 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       135 

had  only  himself  to  thank,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  he 
fully  realized  it. 

A  problem  now  presented  itself  to  Guy,  in  ref 
erence  to  his  ward.  What  should  he  do  with 
him? 

As  the  boy's  education  was  incomplete,  it  seemed 
desirable  that  it  should  be  continued.  Moreover, 
in  his  future  plans  Guy  felt  that  Vivian's  company 
would  hamper  him,  besides  increasing  his  responsi 
bility. 

Jim  Rawdon  came  to  his  rescue. 

One  morning  he  called  at  the  hotel  where  Guy 
was  living,  and  said:  "Why  can't  you  let  Bell  go 
to  school  with  rne?" 

"Where  are  you  going?"  asked  Guy. 

"My  father  will  send  me  to  a  clergyman  who 
takes  but  six  scholars,  and  who  is  highly  recom 
mended.  He  has  two  vacancies,  so  there  is  room 
for  Bell  and  myself." 

"Please  give  me  the  clergyman's  name,  and  I 
will  look  the  matter  up." 

Rawdon  did  so. 

Guy  heard,  upon  inquiry,  such  good  accounts  of 
the  teacher  recommended  that  he  decided  to  send 
Vivian  to  him,  especially  as  he  found  that  his  young 
ward  was  in  favor  of  the  plan. 

This  relieved  him,  and  left  him  ready  to  carry 


136       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

out  any  instructions  he  might  receive  from  his  em 
ployer  in  Bombay. 

It  was  not  long  before  these  instructions  came. 
Going  one  morning  to  the  banking  house,  he  found 
a  letter  from  Mr.  Saunders. 

A  part  of  it  ran  thus : 

I  presume  you  have  visited  Milton  School,  and 
inquired  into  the  charges  brought  by  my  ward  Viv 
ian  Bell  against  the  head  master.  If  the  boy  is 
really  ill  treated,  have  no  hesitation  in  removing 
him.  I  am  not  willing  that  my  old  friend's  son 
should  be  cruelly  used.  Of  my  own  knowledge  I 
know  nothing  of  Dr.  Musgrave,  but  you  will  have 
no  difficulty  in  forming  a  correct  judgment  as  to 
his  character  and  methods. 

I  leave  it  to  your  discretion  to  select  another 
school  for  Vivian,  unless  the  boy's  health  should 
require  a  journey,  in  which  case  you  may  take  him 
with  you  to  America. 

This  leads  me  to  say  that  certain  matters  which 
I  will  detail  to  you  in  a  note  of  instruction,  I  wish 
to  have  you  discuss  with  my  New  York  agent,  Gil 
bert  Frazer,  whose  address  you  have.  This  will 
make  it  necessary  for  you  to  make  a  brief  visit  to 
New  York. 

I  now  come  to  the  matter  of  the  pirates'  treas- 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       137 

ure,  which,  according  to  the  papers  you  showed 
me,  is  probably  concealed  on  one  of  the  Agalegas 
Islands.  When  ycu  first  mentioned  the  matter  to 
me  I  thought  little  of  it.  So  many  stories  are 
extant  about  buried  treasure,  that  I  was  disposed  to 
think  this  might  be  entitled  to  little  consideration. 
But  further  reflections  have  led  me  to  think  that  the 
treasure  may  really  have  an  existence. 

I  therefore  authorize  you  to  communicate  with 
your  old  acquaintance,  Captain  Grover,  of  the  Os- 
prey,  with  a  view  to  engaging  his  services  on  his 
next  trip,  in  a  search  for  the  island.  That  nothing 
may  interfere  with  this  object,  he  may  report  to 
my  agent,  Mr.  Frazer,  who  will  provide  him  with 
a  cargo  consigned  to  me.  The  search  for  the  island 
will  occasion  delay,  but  of  this  I  shall  not  complain, 
though  another  party  undoubtedly  would. 

I  send  you  a  letter  of  credit  addressed  to  Mr. 
Frazer,  who  will  provide  you  with  such  funds  as 
you  need. 

Yours  truly, 

JOHN  SAUNDERS. 

A  memorandum  of  instructions  accompanied 
this  letter. 


138       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XVII 

HOW  THINGS  WENT  ON   IN  BAYPORT 

GUY  was  pleased  with  the  prospect  of  a  return 
to  America,  especially  as  it  was  but  for  a  short 
time.  He  would  not  have  liked  to  feel  that  his 
journeyings  were  over,  and  he  was  to  go  back  there 
permanently. 

He  had  been  some  months  away  from  his  home 
in  Bayport,  and  during  this  time  he  had  not  heard 
anything  from  his  father  or  the  friends  he  left 
behind. 

He  felt  that  he  had  been  remarkably  successful. 
He  left  Bayport  a  raw  boy,  and  now,  after  six 
months,  he  represented  a  wealthy  merchant  in  Bom 
bay,  was  worth  a  considerable  sum  in  money,  and 
had  a  prospect  of  continued  employment  at  a  good 
salary. 

He  had  not  thought  much  of  it  till  now,  but 
as  the  day  of  his  sailing  for  New  York  approached 
he  began  to  be  anxious  about  his  father's  health. 
He  also  troubled  himself  lest  rumors  might  have 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       139 

come  to  him  about  disaffection  in  the  parish,  and 
the  schemes  of  Deacon  Crane  to  oust  him  from 
the  position  he  had  so  long  and  so  honorably  held, 
and  to  put  in  his  place  a  younger  man. 

While  Guy  is  on  the  Atlantic,  speeding  for  home 
on  the  good  steamer  Etruria,  we  will  precede  him 
and  let  the  reader  know  how  matters  are  going  on 
in  Bayport. 

Deacon  Crane  had  gathered  at  his  house  three 
or  four  members  of  the  church  one  Thursday  even 
ing,  and  was  seeking  to  bring  them  over  to  his 
views  on  parish  matters. 

"I  tell  you  what,  Brother  Ainsworth,"  said  he, 
addressing  the  village  storekeeper,  "it's  time  we 
had  a  change  in  the  minister.  Mr.  Fenwick  is 
behind  the  times.  He  isn't  a  hustler.  Why,  the 
parish  is  at  a  standstill.  There  are  not  more  mem 
bers  than  there  were  five  years  ago." 

"That  may  be,  Deacon  Crane,  but  Bayport  itself 
has  been  at  a  standstill.  I  don't  believe  the  popu 
lation  has  increased  twenty-five  in  those  five  years." 

"Mebbe  not,  mebbe  not;  but  the  parson  is  feed 
ing  us  on  husks  Instead  of  rich  spiritual  food." 

"I  think  you  are  prejudiced,  Deacon  Crane," 
said  Jackson  Butler,  a  farmer,  and  one  of  the  par 
ish  committee.  "Mr.  Fenwick  is  an  able  man,  and 
none  of  the  ministers  he  exchanges  with  gives  us  a 


140       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

better  sermon  than  he.  One  of  my  friends  from 
New  Bedford  attended  church  with  me  last  Sun 
day,  and  expressed  himself  as  highly  edified  with 
our  minister's  sermon." 

"I  apprehend,"  said  the  deacon,  "that  it  is  more 
important  that  he  should  please  the  members  of 
his  own  flock  than  the  stray  sheep  who  attend 
church  occasionally  from  other  folds." 

"Still  the  verdict  of  an  intelligent  outsider  car 
ries  weight." 

"I  tell  you  I  want  a  change,"  said  the  deacon, 
with  emphasis.  "I  want  some  bright,  young  man 
that'll  make  a  stir." 

uDo  you  think  there  are  many  that  feel  that 
way,  deacon?" 

"Not  a  doubt  of  it." 

"Who,  for  instance?" 

"Well,"  said  the  deacon,  after  a  pause,  "Mr. 
Bucklin,  for  instance." 

"Bucklin  seldom  goes  to  church,  and  last  year 
he  contributed  but  five  dollars  toward  the  minis 
ter's  salary. 

"Exactly  so.  Get  a  young  man,  and  Bucklin 
would  attend  regularly,  and  pay  a  larger  sum  to 
ward  the  church  expenses." 

"He  might  double  his  subscription,  but  that 
would  not  amount  to  much,"  said  Mr.  Ainsworth. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       141 

"Now  I  pay  fifty  dollars,  and  I  think  I  have  a 
larger  claim  to  consideration  than  Silas  Bucklin." 

"To  be  sure,  to  fee  sure!  But  we  want  to  put 
aside  our  own  preferences  and  consult  for  the  gen 
eral  good." 

"Do  you  do  that,  Deacon  Crane?"  asked  Mr. 
Ainsworth,  pointedly. 

"Yes,  sir!  yes,  sir!" 

"You  are  prejudiced  against  the  minister." 

"No,  sir;  I  am  only  considering  what  will  be 
for  the  good  of  the  parish." 

"You  object,  then,  to  the  minister's  sermons? 
Is  that  all?" 

"No,  Brother  Ainsworth.  I  object  to  Mr.  Fen- 
wick  as  a  family  man." 

"That's  something  new.  What  is  your  objec 
tion?" 

"Well,  you  see,  he's  let  his  son  Guy  go  off  on 
a  wildgoose  chase  to  the  other  end  of  the  world. 
Instead  of  keeping  him  at  home  to  complete  his 
education,  or  go  into  a  store,  he's  let  him  sail  to 
India  with  Captain  Grover." 

"That  reminds  me,"  said  Enoch  Slade,  the  vil 
lage  carpenter.  "Captain  Grover  arrived  home 
yesterday." 

"Then  where  is  Guy  Fen  wick?  Nothing  has 
been  seen  of  him  in  the  village." 


142       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"He  didn't  come  home  with  the  captain." 

"Didn't  come  home?"  repeated  Deacon  Crane, 
in  amazement.  "Where  is  he?" 

"He  stayed  in  Bombay.  I  believe  he  got  some 
thing  to  do  there." 

"Well,  that  beats  all  I  ever  heard,"  said  the  dea 
con,  severely.  "It  shows  just  what  sort  of  a  bring 
ing  up  the  boy  has  had.  The  minister  ought  to 
have  known  better  than  to  have  let  him  leave  home. 
Guy  was  always  self-willed.  My  son  Noah  never 
liked  him." 

This  didn't  impress  the  deacon's  visitors  as  much 
as  he  anticipated,  for  Noah  Crane  was  by  no 
means  an  object  of  admiration  in  the  village.  He 
was  generally  considered  sly  and  mean,  while  Guy 
was  a  universal  favorite. 

"I  always  liked  Guy,  myself,"  said  Mr.  Ains- 
worth.  "He  is  a  good  scholar  and  a  good  boy. 
I  do  hope  he  will  come  out  all  right." 

"It  ain't  hardly  to  be  expected,  Brother  Ains- 
worth.  The  boy  has  always  had  his  own  way. 
You  wouldn't  catch  me  letting  my  Noah  go  off 
to  the  other  end  of  the  world." 

"What  did  Captain  Grover  think  of  Guy  re 
maining  behind?"  asked  Mr.  Ainsworth. 

"He  thought  it  was  a  good  plan.     Guy  had  a 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       143 

position  with  a  leading  English  merchant  in  that 
city." 

"You'll  see  him  coming  home  before  the  mast 
as  a  common  sailor,  mark  my  words, "  said  the 
deacon.  "As  I  was  saying,  the  minister  ought  to 
set  a  good  example  to  his  people  in  the  way  of 
family  discipline ;  but  you  see  what  he's  done.  Sup 
pose  we  all  followed  his  example?" 

"I  think  Guy  will  come  out  all  right,"  observed 
Enoch  Slade. 

"I  don't." 

"What  would  you  have  done  with  him?" 

"I'd  have  put  him  into  a  store,  or  had  him  learn 
a  trade;  that's  what  I  would  have  done." 

"Mr.  Fenwick  was  anxious  to  have  him  go  to 
college,"  suggested  Enoch  Slade. 

"What  was  the  objection?" 

"He  couldn't  afford  it.  You  know  Mr.  Fen- 
wick's  salary  is  only  a  thousand  dollars  a  year,  and 
he  has  an  aged  aunt  whom  he  helps.  So  it  was 
quite  impossible  for  him  to  afford  the  expense." 

"All  the  more  reason  for  keeping  Guy  at  home 
and  setting  him  to  work.  Now  if  I  chose  to  send 
Noah  to  college,  I  could  afford  it,"  added  the  dea 
con,  proudly. 

"Why  don't  you  do  it,  then?"  asked  Mr.  Ains- 
worth. 


144       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Noah  doesn't  care  to  go.  He  wants  to  be  a 
business  man.n 

"I  wouldn't  give  him  a  place  in  my  store," 
thought  Ainsworth,  "if  he  would  work  for  noth 
ing." 

Of  course  he  didn't  say  this. 

On  the  whole,  Deacon  Crane  didn't  find  as  much 
sympathy  as  he  expected  in  his  opposition  to  the 
minister,  but  he  succeeded  in  converting  half  a 
dozen  heads  of  families  to  his  views.  They  were 
not  persons  of  much  importance,  but,  instigated  by 
the  deacon,  they  talked  a  good  deal,  and  managed 
to  convey  the  impression  that  there  was  really  con 
siderable  dissatisfaction  with  Mr.  Fenwick. 

Finally,  Deacon  Crane  thought  the  time  had 
come  to  call  upon  the  minister,  and  let  him  know 
how  matters  stood,  or  rather  how  he  wished  mat 
ters  to  stand. 

So  one  evening  he  took  his  cane,  and  made  his 
way  to  the  parsonage. 

Mr.  Fenwick  was  at  work  upon  his  sermon  for 
the  coming  Sunday,  but  he  laid  down  his  pen  and 
greeted  the  deacon  cordially. 

"I  hear  that  your  son  hasn't  come  home  on  the 
Osprey,  Brother  Fenwick,"  the  deacon  began. 

"No.  It's  a  disappointment  to  me.  I  have 
missed  him  sadly. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       145 

"It  seems  to  me  it  was  a  very  risky  thing  to  let 
him  go  off  so  far." 

"He  was  very  anxious  to  go,  and  I  thought  it 
might  be  an  education  to  him.  I  would  like,  my 
self,  to  see  more  of  the  great  world." 

"Of  course  that's  one  way  to  look  at  it,  but  there 
ain't  many  boys  that  can  be  trusted  so  far  away. 
I  was  amazed  at  his  not  coming  home.  What  does 
the  captain  say?" 

"He  says  that  Guy  made  a  good  friend,  and  he 
is  earning  enough  to  pay  his  expenses." 

"Then  you  approve  of  his  staying?" 

"I  hardly  know  what  to  think.  Guy  is  a  good 
boy,  and  I  think  he  can  be  trusted." 

Deacon  Crane  coughed. 

A  cough  is  very  significant  sometimes.  The  dea 
con's  cough  indicated  incredulity  of  a  very  decided 
character. 

"Mebbe,  mebbe,"  he  said;  "but  that  isn't  the 
way  I  would  have  managed  with  my  boy." 

"What  would  have  been  your  course?"  asked 
Mr.  Fenwick,  mildly. 

"I  would  have  set  Guy  to  work.  He  is  old 
enough  to  be  a  help  to  you." 

"He  is  earning  his  living." 

"True,  if  he  keeps  his  place.  Suppose  he  gets 
discharged?" 


146       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"The  captain  says  that  is  not  likely." 
"Mebbe,  mebbe;  but  I  didn't  come  here  to  dis 
cuss  your  son,  parson.    I  have  a  weightier  matter 
to  speak  of." 

"Go  on,  Brother  Crane,  I  am  ready  to  listen  to 
you." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       147 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

WILY  DEACON  CRANE 

ulx's  a  delicate  matter,"  said  Deacon  Crane, 
coughing  slightly.  "Fd  rather  some  other  brother 
would  have  taken  it  off  my  hands,  but  duty  is  duty, 
and  it  isn't  right  to  shirk  it." 

uTrue,  Brother  Crane,"  said  the  minister,  but 
he  looked  puzzled.  He  had  no  idea  what  the  dea 
con  was  driving  at. 

"Do  you  think,  parson,  the  parish  is  pro- 
gressin'  as  it  should  ?  Do  you  think  the  people  are 
as  much  interested  in  religion  as  they'd  ought  to 
be?" 

"Is  there  any  parish  of  which  that  can  be  said, 
Brother  Crane?" 

"Well,  perhaps  not;  but  it  seems  to  me  there's 
a  good  deal  of  spiritooal  indifference  in  the  church 
to-day." 

"More  than  there  used  to  be?" 

"That's  the  point  I  am  comin'  to.  To  my  mind 
the  congregation  is  gettin'  less  and  less  spiritooally- 
minded." 

"I  am  very  sorry  if  this  is  the  case.     I  had  not 


148       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

noticed  it.  The  congregations  keep  up  very  well, 
and  the  people  are  attentive  to  the  services." 

"Mebbe,  mebbe;  they'd  appear  to  be  so  out  of 
respect  for  you,  parson;  but  as  I  move  about  the 
village,  of  course  I  hear  what's  said." 

"Admitting  that  things  are  as  you  say,  what 
remedy  do  you  suggest?" 

"That's  the  p'int!  That's  the  p'int  I  was 
comin'  at;  but  I  don't  hardly  like  to  answer  that 
question." 

"Why  not?"  asked  the  minister,  innocently. 

"Because  it  might  hurt  your  feelin's,  parson." 

"I  will  not  allow  my  feelings  to  stand  in  the  way, 
so  be  kind  enough  to  answer  the  question  frankly 
and  candidly." 

"Then,  if  I  must  say  it,"  replied  the  deacon, 
watching  under  his  shaggy  eyebrows  to  see  what 
effect  his  words  would  have  upon  Mr.  Fenwick, 
"if  I  must  say  it,  some  of  the  people  are  sayin' 
it  might  be  well  for  the  parish  to  have  a  younger 
minister!" 

Mr.  Fenwick  started  as  if  he  had  been  struck. 
He  was  utterly  unprepared  for  this  communication. 
He  had  lived  among  his  people  for  twenty  years, 
and  no  thought  of  separation  had  come  to  him. 

He  turned  pale,  and  endeavored  to  stifle  his  emo 
tion. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       149 

"I — I  was  not  prepared  for  this,  Deacon 
Crane,"  he  said.  "Are  the  people  really  getting 
tired  of  me?"  he  added,  with  a  tremor  in  his  voice. 

"Of  course  there  are  some  of  us  that  stand  by 
you,  parson;  for  instance,  myself  and  Mrs.  Crane. 
But  I  regret  to  say  that  some  of  the  younger  people 
are  gettin'  uneasy,  and  think  that  a  change  might 
be  for  the  benefit  of  the  parish." 

"Will  you  name  to  me  some  of  the  disaffected 
ones,  Brother  Crane?" 

"No,  I'd  rather  not.  You  see,  they  all  respect 
you.  You  see,  you're  gettin'  into  years,  parson." 

"I  am  fifty-one." 

"True,  that  isn't  very  old.  I'm  a  year  or  two 
older  myself."  (The  deacon  was  fifty-nine.)  "But 
then  I  am  not  a  preacher.  People  don't  seem  to 
consider  age  an  objection  in  a  deacon.  If  they 
did,  I  hope  I  should  be  willin'  to  sacrifice  myself 
on  the  altar  of  dooty." 

Mr.  Fenwick  rose  from  his  chair  and  began 
to  pace  up  and  down  the  study.  He  was  very  much 
agitated,  and  heart-sore  at  the  thought  that  the 
people  who  were  so  near  to  him  should  wish  him 
to  go. 

"How  long  have  you  seen  signs  of  disaffection, 
Deacon  Crane?"  he  asked,  pausing  in  his  walk. 


150       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Well,  for  about  two  years,  I  reckon,  Mr.  Fen- 
wick." 

"And  yet  the  people  seem  to  come  to  church 
in  as  large  numbers  as  usual." 

"It  is  their  sense  of  dooty,  parson.  They  feel 
that  they  ought  to  come." 

"That  may  be.  It  is  certainly  very  commend 
able.  I  only  mention  it  to  let  you  understand  why 
I  have  not  noticed  this  feeling." 

"Of  course,  I  needn't  say,  parson,  that  I  am 
very  sorry  to  be  the  one  chosen  to  tell  you  how 
matters  stand.  You  see,  there  was  a  meetin'  of 
a  few  of  your  parishioners  at  my  house  last  night, 
and  we  talked  the  matter  over,  and  it  was  thought 
best  that  I  should  give  you  a  hint." 

"May  I  ask  who  were  at  your  house,  Deacon 
Crane?" 

"Well,  I  don't  think  I  ought  to  tell.  Some  of 
them  might  be  unwilling." 

"I  don't  see  why." 

"They  might  think  you  would  be  offended." 

"I  should  have  no  right  to  be  offended.  I  might 
feel  grieved.  Indeed  I  do.  But,  of  course,  my 
first  thought  must  be  of  the  parish,  and  what  is 
good  for  it." 

"I  knew  you  would  feel  that  way,  Brother  Fen- 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       151 

wick.  We  all  know  what  a  conscientious  man  you 
are." 

"I  hope  so,"  faltered  the  minister.  "You  think 
^hat  I  ought  to  send  in  my  resignation?" 

"Of  course,  parson,  you  will  be  able  to  preach 
to  good  acceptance  in  some  other  parish.  All  pea- 
pie  don't  have  the  same  taste." 

"It  would  be  hard  for  me  to  settle  down  among 
strangers." 

"Just  at  first  it  would;  but  after  a  while  it  would 
put  new  life  into  you.  We  all  of  us  need  a  change, 
ministers  as  well  as  other  people." 

"I  will  think  over  what  you  say,  Deacon  Crane. 
It  has  come  as  a  surprise  to  me." 

"To  be  sure,  to  be  sure !  There  is  only  one 
thing  now  I  want  to  say,"  and  the  deacon  cleared 
his  throat  with  portentous  significance. 

"And  what  is  that  other  thing  you  have  to  say, 
deacon?"  asked  Mr.  Fenwick. 

"You  know  I  hold  a  mortgage  of  five  hundred 
dollars  on  your  house?" 

"Yes."  " 

"I  was  thinkin'  of  callin'  it  in ;  but  if  you  should 
be  goin'  to  another  place,  I  wouldn't  mind  buyin' 
it  if  we  could  agree  upon  terms." 

"I  don't  feel  like  discussing  that  question  now, 
deacon." 


152       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"All  right.  There's  plenty  of  time." 
Deacon  Crane  rose  to  go.  As  he  left  the  house 
a  complacent  smile  overspread  his  face.  He  felt 
that  he  had  broached  the  subject  successfully,  and 
deceived  the  minister  as  to  the  extent  of  the  oppo 
sition  to  him. 

Besides,  and  this  was  no  unimportant  consider 
ation,  he  saw  that  there  would  be  a  chance,  in  all 
probability,  of  buying  the  minister's  modest  house 
at  a  bargain,  and  so  making  a  tidy  little  profit  for 
himself. 

Half  an  hour  later,  Mr.  Ainsworth  entered  the 
presence  of  the  minister.  He  had  seen  Deacon 
Crane  leaving  the  parsonage,  and  guessed  his  ob 
ject  in  calling. 

Lest  the  deacon  should  have  misrepresented  mat 
ters,  he  wished  to  have  a  little  conference  with  Mr. 
Fenwick  himself. 

"Mr.  Fenwick,"  he  said,  as  he  entered  the  study, 
"you  look  sober." 

"Yes,  Brother  Ainsworth,  my  heart  is  heavy." 
"Deacon  Crane  has  called  upon  you?" 
"Yes.     He  grieved  me  very  much  by  telling  me 
that  the  people  wanted  a  change." 

"Which  means  that  he  wants  a  change." 

"He  assured  me  that  he  and  Mrs.  Crane  stood 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       153 

by  me.  He  said  it  was  the  younger  people  who 
were  getting  uneasy." 

"Mr.  Fenwick,  Deacon  Crane  has  for  months 
been  trying  to  get  up  an  opposition  to  you." 

"Can  this  be  so?" 

"Yes.  He  has  not  met  with  very  good  success. 
I  don't  think  there  are  more  than  half  a  dozen  per 
sons  besides  himself  that  want  a  change,  and  those 
are  members  by  no  means  prominent." 

"But  why  should  he  be  so  desirous  of  having 
me  leave?" 

"Because  there  is  a  cousin  of  his  wife,  now  out 
of  a  charge,  whom  he  hopes  to  get  here  in  your 
place.  That  is  the  true  explanation.  He  has  de 
ceived  you  as  to  the  state  of  feeling  in  the  par 
ish." 

"Brother  Ainsworth,  you  have  relieved  my  mind 
and  lifted  from  it  a  heavy  burden.  The  deacon 
gave  me  to  understand  the  feeling  was  general." 

"Moreover,1"  continued  Mr.  Ainsworth,  "he 
wants  to  get  hold  of  your  house  and  let  it  to  his 
cousin,  if  he  can  manage  to  get  him  installed  as 
your  successor." 

"Then  you  don't  think  I  ought  to  resign?" 

"Certainly  not.  We  don't  propose  to  have  the 
deacon  run  the  parish." 

Two  days  afterward  Deacon  Crane  called  again. 


154       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Well,  Brother  Fenwick,"  he  said,  "have  you 
decided  to  resign?" 

"No,  Deacon  Crane,  not  yet.  Brother  Ains- 
worth  tells  me  that  the  great  majority  of  the  people 
favor  my  remaining." 

"He  is  in  error,"  said  the  deacon,  tartly.  "You 
are  making  a  great  mistake.  And  I  want  to  say 
that  I  shall  have  to  foreclose  that  mortgage.  I 
want  the  money  this  day  week." 

"I  doubt  if  I  can  obtain  it  so  soon,"  said  the  min 
ister,  troubled. 

"Then  I  will  buy  the  place." 

"I  prefer  not  to  sell.  I  will  try  to  secure  the 
money." 

Mr.  Fenwick  went  about  among  those  of  his 
friends  who  he  thought  might  be  able  to  accom 
modate  him  with  a  loan,  but  there  was  a  stringency 
in  the  money  market,  and  no  one  seemed  able  to 
oblige  him. 

He  returned,  despondent,  from  his  search,  when, 
as  he  entered  the  house,  he  found  a  letter  awaiting 
him. 

It  ran  thus: 

DEAR  FATHER: 

I  have  just  arrived  in  New  York  on  the  Etruria. 
I  hope  to  reach  Bayport  to-morrow.  GUY. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       155 


CHAPTER  XIX 

PREPARING  TO  RECEIVE  GUY 

THOUGH  he  was  puzzled  by  Guy's  letter,  Mr. 
Fenwick  was  overjoyed  at  the  thought  of  seeing 
his  son  again. 

Why  he  should  have  arrived  at  New  York  on 
the  Etruria,  when  he  had  been  left  by  Captain 
Grover  in  Bombay,  he  could  not  understand. 

"Probably  Guy  was  too  young  for  his  position," 
he  thought,  uand  his  employer  has  paid  his  ex 
penses  home.  Never  mind ;  he  can  find  something 
to  do  here.  It  seems  a  long,  long  time  since  I  have 
seen  my  dear  boy." 

For  the  time  he  forgot  the  fact  that  he  had  no 
money  with  which  to  meet  the  mortgage;  but  it 
was  brought  back  to  his  recollection  when,  later 
in  the  day,  he  met  Deacon  Crane  in  the  village. 

"Well,  parson,"  began  the  deacon,  abruptly, 
"I  hope  you  haven't  forgotten  that  the  mortgage 
falls  due  day  after  to-morrow.  Have  you  secured 
the  money  to  pay  it  ?" 


156       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"No,  Deacon  Crane.  Money  seems  very  hard 
to  borrow  just  now." 

"I  am  aware  of  that.  You  will  find  it  best  to 
sell  to  me." 

"What  do  you  offer?" 

"A  thousand  dollars  over  and  above  the  face  of 
the  mortgage." 

"But,"  said  the  minister,  dismayed,  "that  would 
make  the  place  worth  only  fifteen  hundred  dol 
lars!" 

"Fifteen  hundred  dollars  is  a  great  deal  of 
money." 

"Why,  I  paid  two  thousand !" 

"Mebbe,  mebbe;  but  property  depreciates  in  the 
course  of  years." 

"Certainly  the  land  has  not  depreciated,  and  the 
house  is  in  good  repair." 

"Well,  money  is  tight.  You  know  that  your 
self,  for  you  have  found  it  hard  to  borrow." 

"Can't  you  let  matters  run  on  for  a  year  longer? 
By  that  time  I  may  be  able  to  realize  a  large  sum 
for  the  property." 

Deacon  Crane's  thin  lips  tightened,  and  his  eyes 
looked  crafty  and  forbidding. 

"What  you  ask  is  unreasonable,  Brother  Fen- 
wick,"  he  said. 

The  minister  looked  despondent. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       157 

"If  I  sell  the  house,"  he  said,  "I  don't  know 
where  I  can  find  another." 

"You  can  board,"  suggested  the  deacon. 

"I  should  not  like  it.  I  have  been  accustomed 
to  have  a  home  of  my  own.  Besides — I  didn't 
think  to  tell  you — I  am  expecting  Guy  home." 

Deacon  Crane  opened  his  eyes  wide. 

"Why,  I  thought  he  was  in  Bombay,  earning 
his  living.  Why  did  he  leave  there?" 

"I  don't  know.  I  got  a  letter  this  morning,  say 
ing  that  he  had  reached  New  York  on  the  steamer 
Etruria." 

Deacon  Crane's  puckered  and  wrinkled  face 
looked  jubilant.  It  might  have  been  thought  that 
he  was  pleased  at  the  prospect  of  seeing  Guy  back; 
but  this  would  have  been  a  mistake. 

"I  am  not  surprised,"  he  said,  dryly. 

"I  am.    I  did  not  dream  of  such  a  thing." 

"Of  course,  it's  plain  enough.  Guy  didn't  suit 
his  employer,  and  he  has  been  discharged." 

"I  hope  it  isn't  that.  But  even  that  is  better 
than  his  being  sick." 

"I  told  you,  parson,  that  it  was  very  unwise  to  let 
so  young  a  boy  go  off  to  the  other  end  of  the  world. 
I  know  it  wasn't  your  fault,  his  staying  behind  in 
Bombay,  but  I  should  think  a  sensible  man  like 
Captain  Grover  would  have  advised  against  it." 


158       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  shall  soon  know  what  brings  Guy  back.  I 
only  mentioned  it  to  explain  that  I  should  need  a 
home  for  him  as  well  as  myself.  It  makes  me  all 
the  more  anxious  to  keep  the  house." 

"I  am  «ure  I  have  no  objection  if  you  can  pay  off 
the  mortgage." 

"You  couldn't  extend  it  for  another  year?" 

"No,  I  couldn't." 

"Then  perhaps  you  will  take  me  as  your  ten 
ant?" 

"I  don't  think  I  could  do  that,  either.  I  have 
other  views." 

"I've  got  some  news  for  you,  Noah,"  said  Dea 
con  Crane,  when  he  entered  his  own  house. 

"What  is  it,  father?" 

"Guy  Fenwick  is  coming  back." 

"When?"  asked  Noah,  eagerly. 

"His  father's  had  a  letter  from  New  York,  say- 
in'  that  he's  just  arrived  by  the  Etruria." 

"Why,  the  Etruria  comes  from  Liverpool,  not 
from  Bombay!" 

"I  know  that.  He  must  have  come  by  way  of 
England." 

"Ho !  ho !  Why,  I  thought  he'd  got  a  place  in 
Bombay?" 

"He's  probably  been  discharged  and  sent  home." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       159 

"I'm  glad  of  it!" 

"I  suppose  you'll  be  glad  to  have  his  company 
again?"  said  the  deacon,  slyly,  for  he  knew  just 
how  his  son  felt  toward  Guy. 

uNo,  it  isn't  that;  but  I'm  glad  he's  come  home 
in  disgrace.  That  boy  was  always  puttin'  on  airs, 
though  his  father  was  only  a  poor  minister,  and 
hadn't  half  as  much  money  as  you." 

"No;  nor  one-fifth,"  said  the  deacon,  compla 
cently.  "I'll  tell  you  a  secret,  Noah.  I've  got  a 
mortgage  on  the  minister's  house." 

"I  know  that  already." 

"But  you  didn't  know  that  I  should  probably 
have  to  foreclose  the  mortgage,  and  take  the  place. 
Of  course,  I  shall  get  it  cheap." 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  with  it?" 

"Perhaps  I  shall  keep  it  till  you  are  married, 
Noah,  and  give  it  to  you  to  live  in,"  said  his  father, 
playfully. 

"Then  Guy  won't  have  any  home  to  go  to?" 

"That's  about  it." 

"I  wouldn't  be  in  his  shoes.  He's  lost  his  place, 
and  now  he  will  lose  his  home,  too." 

"We  mustn't  rejoice  over  his  misfortune,"  said 
the  deacon,  with  the  air  of  a  Pecksniff.  "We 
should  always  feel  sorry  for  the  bad  luck  of  our 
fellow  men." 


160       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"If  you  are,  father,  why  do  you  foreclose  the 
mortgage?" 

"That's  business,  Noah.  We  sometimes  have  to 
do  in  the  way  of  business  what  we  do  not  like  to 
do.  By  the  way,  don't  mention  to  anyone  what  I 
intend  to  do." 

"No,  I  won't.  But  why  doesn't  the  minister 
pay  off  the  mortgage?" 

"For  the  very  good  reason  that  he  cannot  bor 
row  the  money." 

"I  thought  perhaps  Mr.  Ainsworth  would  lend 
him.  He  seems  to  be  a  great  friend  of  the  min 


ister." 


"It's  all  Ainsworth  can  do  to  get  the  money  to 
pay  his  own  bills.  The  only  man  in  the  village 
that's  got  any  spare  cash  is " 

"Well,  who?" 

"Deacon  Crane,"  answered  Noah's  father,  with 
a  wintry  smile;  "and  he  isn't  lendin'." 

"Ho !  ho !"  laughed  Noah.  "When  is  Guy  Fen- 
wick  expected  back?" 

"I  shouldn't  wonder  if  he'd  be  here  this  after 
noon,  though  the  minister  didn't  say.  I  don't  sup 
pose  there's  anything  to  keep  him  in  New  York." 

"That  is,  if  he's  got  money  enough  to  get  home. 
It  would  be  a  joke  if  he  had  to  walk." 

"I  guess  he'll  have  money  enough  to  get  home, 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       161 

but  I  reckon  it'll  be  a  good  while  before  he  gets 
a  chance  to  go  away  again." 

"I'll  be  on  the  lookout  for  him,"  said  Noah.  "I 
want  to  see  how  he  looks,  and  what  he'll  say  when 
he  finds  his  father  is  going  to  lose  the  house." 

Mr.  Fenwick  had  occasion  to  visit  the  village 
store  during  the  day.  Sometimes  he  went  there 
without  any  errand,  for  he  was  always  cordially 
received  by  Mr.  Ainsworth. 

As  he  entered,  the  storekeeper  looked  up. 

"What  is  this  I  hear  about  Guy  returning,  Mr. 
Fenwick?"  he  asked. 

"I  received  a  letter  this  morning  stating  that 
he  had  just  reached  New  York  by  the  steamer 
Etruria." 

"You  didn't  expect  him,  did  you?" 

"No.    I  supposed  that  he  was  still  at  Bombay." 

"Your  special  friend,  Deacon  Crane,  seems  to 
be  pleased  to  think  he  is  coming  back." 

"He  thinks  Guy  has  been  discharged  by  the 
merchant  who  employed  him." 

"Of  course,  it  is  possible  that  he  did  not  give 
satisfaction." 

"I  don't  know  how  that  may  be,  but  I  shall  be 
glad  to  have  my  boy  at  home  again." 

"Have  you  formed  any  views  for  him?" 


162       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  suppose  it  will  be  well  to  let  him  go  into  some 
store  or  counting-room.  He  doesn't  seem  to  care 
to  go  to  college." 

"If  you  see  fit  to  let  him  enter  my  store,  Mr. 
Fenwick,  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  him.  I  always 
liked  Guy,  and  I  consider  him  a  smart  boy." 

'Thank  you,  Mr.  Ainsworth.  You  are  always 
kind  to  me  and  mine.  I  can't  decide  till  I  have 
seen  Guy,  but  I  think  it  quite  possible  that  we  shall 
accept  your  offer." 

This  was  not  the  only  opening  for  Guy. 

Deacon  Crane  offered  to  give  him  work  on  his 
farm. 

"I  feel  for  your  disappointment  about  the  boy, 
parson,"  he  said,  "and  I  think  I  can  set  him  to 
work  on  my  place.  Of  course,  I  can't  pay  him 
much." 

"Thank  you,  Deacon  Crane.  I  will  see  what 
Guy  thinks  about  your  offer." 

Mr.  Fenwick  knew,  though  he  did  not  say  so, 
that  nothing  would  induce  Guy  to  enter  the  dea 
con's  service. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       163 


CHAPTER  XX 

GUY  REACHES  BAYPORT 

GUY  did  not  delay  long  in  New  York.  He  called 
upon  Gilbert  Frazer,  the  American  agent  of  his 
employer,  and  attended  to  the  business  that  had 
been  intrusted  to  him. 

Mr.  Frazer,  a  canny  Scotchman,  somewhat  over 
fifty,  was  amazed  that  Mr.  Saunders  had  so  far 
trusted  "a  mere  boy";  but  in  his  conversation  with 
Guy  he  found  that  "the  mere  boy"  was  quick  and 
intelligent,  and  seemed  thoroughly  to  comprehend 
the  business  on  which  he  was  employed. 

"You  are  an  extraordinary  boy,"  he  said,  raising 
his  glasses,  and  peering  at  Guy  from  under  the 
rims.  "How  old  are  you?" 

"Seventeen,  sir." 

"You  seem  to  have  the  brains  of  a  man  of  twen 
ty-five." 

"Thank  you,  sir.  I  suppose  I  may  consider  that 
a  compliment?" 

"Surely.  When  will  you  call  again?  I  shall 
need  to  have  some  further  words  with  you." 


164       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  wish  to  visit  my  father,  whom  I  have  not  seen 
for  six  months  or  more,  but  I  will  return  to  the 
city  in  four  days." 

"Where  does  your  father  live?" 

"In  Bayport,  Massachusetts." 

"Very  good.  I  will  expect  you  in  four  days. 
There  will  be  no  harm  in  waiting  that  length  of 


time." 


"Now,"  said  Guy  to  himself,  joyfully,  "I  shall 
soon  be  at  home." 

He  engaged  passage  by  the  steamer  Pilgrim  of 
the  Fall  River  Line,  and  started  that  night. 

He  found  himself  the  next  morning  in  New 
Bedford.  Here  he  took  a  stage  for  Bayport. 

His  heart  beat  with  excitement  when  he  reached 
the  borders  of  his  native  village.  He  realized  the 
charms  of  home. 

He  had  traveled  many  thousand  miles  by  land 
and  sea,  he  had  seen  London  and  Bombay,  but 
neither  of  these  cities  seemed  so  attractive  to  him 
as  the  obscure  town  on  the  Massachusetts  coast 
where  he  had  passed  his  boyhood  days. 

The  first  person  whom  he  saw  when  he  descend 
ed  from  the  stage  was  Noah  Crane. 

In  fact,  Noah  had  managed  to  be  around  when 
the  stage  arrived,  in  the  hope  of  meeting  Guy. 

Guy  was  so  pleased  to  see  a  familiar  face  that 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       165 

he  forgot  the  old  animosity  between  himself  and 
the  deacon's  son,  and  exclaimed,  gladly:  "How 
are  you,  Noah?  It  seems  good  to  see  an  old 
friend!" 

"So  youVe  got  back?"  said  Noah,  coolly. 

"Yes,  I've  got  back." 

"I  thought  you'd  be  back  before  long." 

Then  it  dawned  upon  Guy  that  Noah  looked 
upon  him  as  a  failure,  and  it  amused  him. 

"Of  course  I  would  come  back,  since  my  father 
lives  here.  Is  he  well  ?" 

"Oh,  yes,  he's  well— in  health." 

"Isn't  he  well  in  other  respects?" 

"Well,  you  see,  some  of  the  people  want  a 
younger  minister.  I  don't  know  how  it  will  turn 
out." 

"I  suppose  your  father  is  one  who  favors  a 
"change?" 

"Well,  he  seems  to  think  it  might  be  better  for 
the  parish." 

Guy  smiled.  The  suggestion  did  not  trouble 
him  as  it  might  have  done  six  months  before. 

"Besides,"  continued  Noah,  "he  may  lose  his 
house." 

This  was  certainly  news. 

"I  don't  understand  you,"  said  Guy.  "The 
house  belongs  to  him." 


166       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Yes,  but  there's  a  mortgage  on  it." 

"Well?" 

"Father  holds  the  mortgage,  and  as  your  father 
can't  pay  it,  of  course  he'll  have  to  give  it  up." 

"Do  you  remember  how  large  the  mortgage  is, 
Noah?" 

"Five  hundred  dollars." 

"That  isn't  much.  He  ought  to  be  able  to  bor 
row  that  small  sum." 

"Seems  to  me  you  have  pretty  large  ideas.  It'll 
be  a  long  time  before  you'll  be  able  to  earn  five 
hundred  dollars." 

"Well,  perhaps  so,"  said  Guy,  smiling. 

"Now  you've  come  back  to  live  on  your  father, 
it'll  be  harder  still  for  him." 

"Perhaps  I  shall  get  work,"  answered  Guy,  smil 
ing  again. 

"Yes ;  you'll  have  to  earn  something.  My  father 
says  he  will  hire  you  to  work  on  our  farm." 

"That's  very  kind  of  him." 

"He  does  it  on  account  of  your  father.  He  feels 
for  him,  considering  he  has  been  so  much  disap 
pointed  in  you." 

"I  didn't  expect  so  much  kindness  from  the  dea 
con  and  you.  I'll  think  over  this  offer,  if  he  de 
cides  to  make  it.  But  I  can't  stop  talking  here 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       167 

any  longer.  I  know  father  will  be  anxious  to  see 
me." 

"Guy  is  a  queer  boy,"  thought  Noah.  "When 
I  told  him  about  his  father's  troubles  he  only  smiled 
as  if  he  didn't  care.  I'd  like  to  take  as  long  a 
journey  as  he  has,  but  I  shouldn't  like  to  return 
home  a  pauper." 

"Noah  is  as  kind  and  amiable  as  ever,"  thought 
Guy.  "Evidently  he  thinks  I  am  a  bad  failure. 
I  wonder  how  he  will  feel  when  he  learns  how 
fortunate  I  have  been." 

In  a  few  minutes  he  found  himself  entering  the 
yard  of  the  parsonage. 

Guy  was  touched  by  his  father's  evident  delight. 
He  began  to  understand  how  near  he  was  to  his 
heart. 

"Welcome  home,  Guy!"  he  said.  "I  have  had 
my  cares  and  anxieties,  but  this  pays  me  for  all!" 

"Thank  you,  father.  It  seems  good  to  be  at 
home  again." 

"And  you  have  been  in  good  health  all  the  time, 
Guy?" 

"Never  better,  father." 

"You  must  be  hungry,  my  son.  Come  in,  and 
you  shall  try  some  of  Rachel's  home  cooking." 

"Indeed,  father,  I  can  do  it  justice.  Were  you 
surprised  to  receive  my  letter?" 


168       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Yes,  Guy.  I  thought  you  were  thousands  of 
miles  away.  How  did  you  like  your  employer, 
Mr.  Saunders?" 

The  father  asked  this  doubtfully,  not  knowing 
on  what  terms  his  son  had  left  the  merchant. 

"He  is  an  excellent  man,  and  a  good  friend, 
father." 

"Then  how  did  it  happen  that  he  discharged 
you,  Guy?"  asked  the  minister. 

"Who  told  you  he  discharged  me?" 

"I  judged  so  on  account  of  your  return  home." 

"I  am  still  in  his  employ,  father.  I  went  to 
England  first,  and  have  now  come  to  America  as 
his  agent,  and  on  his  business.  And  you  actually 
thought  I  was  discharged?" 

"Yes,  Guy;  and  Deacon  Crane  is  of  the  same 
opinion." 

"I  know  that,"  said  Guy,  with  a  laugh.  "I  met 
Noah  on  getting  off  the  stage.  I  really  believe 
he  went  to  meet  me." 

"I  did  not  know  you  were  friends." 

"We  are  not.  He  wanted  to  triumph  over  me 
on  account  of  my  supposed  discharge.  He  offered 
me  a  place  on  his  father's  farm." 

"And  Mr.  Ainsworth  is  ready  to  give  you  a 
position  in  his  store." 

"Mr.  Ainsworth  is  a  friend.    I  would  not  mind 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       169 

working  for  him  if  there  was  any  need  of  it;  but 
nothing  would  induce  me  to  work  for  the  deacon." 

"But  how  can  you  be  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Saun- 
ders  while  you  are  here?" 

"I  am  under  pay  all  the  time,  father.  I  cannot 
be  with  you  long.  I  must  be  in  New  York  in  four 
days,  to  attend  to  some  business  there,  and  soon 
after  shall  be  obliged  to  start  again  on  a  long  jour 
ney." 

"It  seems  strange,  Guy,  to  think  of  you  as  in 
the  employ  of  a  man  thousands  of  miles  away.  Are 
your  prospects  good?" 

"Excellent,  father.  And  now  tell  me  about 
yourself.  Has  Deacon  Crane  been  making  trouble 
for  you  in  the  parish?" 

"Yes,  Guy.  He  tried  to  stir  up  opposition  to 
me  in  favor  of  a  younger  man,  but  he  found  very 
few  to  join  him.  My  good  parishioners  stood  by 


me." 


"Good  for  them!  As  for  the  deacon,  he  is  a 
mean,  malicious,  double-faced  man !" 

"We  must  not  speak  ill  of  others,  Guy." 

"He  deserves  it,  if  anyone  does!  But  you  spoke 
of  anxieties.  To  what  do  you  refer  ?" 

"To  a  very  great  one,  Guy.  You  did  not  per 
haps  know  that  this  house  was  mortgaged?" 


170       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Yes;  Noah  kindly  informed  me  of  it  when  we 
met  this  morning." 

"It  is  his  father,  Deacon  Crane,  who  holds  the 
mortgage." 

"What  is  the  sum?" 

"Five  hundred  dollars." 

"That  is  not  a  large  sum." 

"No;  but  the  deacon  wants  it.  He  will  not 
consent  to  extend  it." 

"Can  you  borrow  it  in  the  village?" 

"No,  Guy.  Times  are  hard.  No  one  has  any 
extra  money.  My  good  friend  Ainsworth  would 
lend  it  to  me  if  he  had  it,  but  at  present  he>  can't 
raise  it." 

"Then  what  will  follow?" 

"The  place  will  be  sold  to  satisfy  the  claim. 
Deacon  Crane  has  offered  a  thousand  dollars  over 
and  above  the  mortgage." 

"Why,  that  is  robbery!"  said  Guy,  indignantly. 

"True,  Guy,  but  it  can't  be  helped.  The  deacon 
will  secure  the  house,  and  I  shall  be  turned  out !" 

"No,  you  won't,  father!" 

"What  dc  you  mean,  Guy?" 

"When  does  the  mortgage  fall  due?" 

"To-morrow." 

"Very  well;  don't  borrow  any  trouble,  father. 
It  shall  be  paid." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       171 

"But  how?     I  don't  understand." 

"I  have  more  than  enough  money  to  meet  it." 

"But,  Guy,  it  would  not  be  right  to  use  your 

employer's  money!" 

"There  is  no  need  of  that.     I  have  more  than 

enough  money  of  my  own." 


172       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXI 

DEACON  CRANE  IS  PERPLEXED 

MR.  FENWICK  was  sitting  at  his  desk  when  Dea 
con  Crane  called.  The  deacon  expected  to  find  him 
nervous  and  agitated,  and  was  surprised  to  note 
that  he  was  as  calm  and  placid  as  usual. 

"Take  a  seat,  Deacon  Crane,"  said  the  minis 
ter. 

The  deacon  seated  himself  in  a  rocking-chair 
and  began  to  rock.  It  was  his  custom  when  he 
was  excited. 

"I  hear,  Mr.  Fenwick,  that  your  son  Guy  has 
got  home,"  he  began. 

"Yes,"  answered  Mr.  Fenwick,  with  a  smile  of 
satisfaction.  "Guy  has  got  back." 

"Rather  unexpected,  wasn't  it?" 

"Yes,  unexpected,  but  very  welcome.  It  has 
brightened  me  up  a  good  deal." 

"Has  it?  I  thought  perhaps  you  might  have 
been  disappointed." 

"Disappointed  to  see  Guy?    Oh,  no !  no!" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       173 

"You  know  what  I  mean,"  returned  the  deacon, 
with  some  asperity. 

"I  don't  think  I  do." 

"I  mean,  of  course,  that  it  can't  be  pleasant  to 
have  your  son  thrown  on  your  hands  when  you 
thought  he  was  earnin'  his  livinV 

"I  think  I  must  ask  you  to  explain  yourself." 

"If  you  wasn't  a  minister,  I  might  say  that  you 
seem  a  little  dense,"  said  the  deacon,  impatiently. 
"However,  I  feel  for  you.  You  can't  afford  to 
have  a  big  boy  eatin'  you  out  of  house  and  home. 
I  can  find  work  for  him  on  my  farm,  though,  of 
course,  I  shouldn't  feel  justified  in  payin'  much." 

"You  are  considerate,  deacon,"  said  Mr.  Fen- 
wick,  with  a  slight  smile,  "and  perhaps  I  have  mis 
led  you.  Guy  is  not  out  of  employment." 

"No?"  said  the  deacon,  opening  his  eyes  in  sur 
prise.  "Do  you  mean  to  say  that  he  has  a  posi 
tion?" 

"He  is  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Saunders  of  Bom 
bay." 

"How  can  that  be?" 

"He  was  sent  to  New  York  on  business  by  his 
employer,  and  took  the  opportunity  of  visiting  me." 

"This  don't  seem  a  very  likely  story,"  said  the 
deacon,  in  a  tone  of  disappointment.  "Are  you  sure 
he  isn't  deceivin'  you?" 


174       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  am  quite  sure,"  answered  Mr.  Fenwick,  with 
dignity.  "Does  your  son  ever  deceive  you?" 

"That  isn't  neither  here  nor  there.  If  he  told 
me  such  a  story  as  Guy  has  told  you  I  would  punish 
him." 

"Guy  doesn't  deceive  me,"  said  the  minister, 
quietly. 

He  was  annoyed  with  the  deacon  for  his  incre 
dulity,  but  he  understood  Mr.  Crane's  suspicious 
nature,  also  his  dislike  for  Guy,  and  he  was  not 
surprised. 

"However,"  continued  the  deacon,  "that  isn't 
what  I  came  over  for.  I  hope  you've  considered 
the  matter,  and  are  resigned  to  my  foreclosin'  the 
mortgage." 

"I  do  not  propose  to  allow  the  mortgage  to  be 
foreclosed." 

The  deacon  was  surprised  and  angry.  He  felt 
that  Mr.  Fenwick  was  trifling  with  him. 

"I  apprehend,"  he  said,  "that  it  isn't  what  you 
allow,  Mr.  Minister,  but  what  I  choose  to  do." 

"You  are  mistaken,  Deacon  Crane." 

"How  are  you  goin'  to  stop  me  foreclosin'  ?" 

"By  paying  the  mortgage." 

"Have  you  got  the  money?"  asked  the  deacon, 
his  jaw  dropping. 

"Yes." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       175 

"Who  lent  it  to  you  ?    Was  it  Mr.  Ainsworth  ?" 

"I  don't  think,  Deacon  Crane,  that  that  is  a 
question  which  you  have  any  right  to  ask." 

"Oh,  well,  if  you  don't  want  to  tell,"  said  the 
deacon,  in  a  tone  of  disappointment. 

"I  don't  know  that  I  have  any  objection  to  tell 
you,  though,  as  I  said,  it  is  not  a  question  which 
you  have  a  right  to  ask.  Guy  lent  it  to  me." 

"Guy  lent  it  to  you?"  repeated  the  deacon,  in  an 
amazement  which  was  almost  ludicrous. 

"Yes." 

"Mr.  Fenwick,"  said  the  deacon,  severely,  "I 
thought  you'd  be  above  takin'  from  Guy  his  em 
ployer's  money." 

"I  think,  Deacon  Crane,  that  you  are  guilty  of 
great  impertinence  in  hinting  such  a  thing!" 

"This  to  me?"  ejaculated  the  deacon,  wrath- 
fully. 

"Yes,  sir.  You  are  speaking  in  a  way  I  shall 
not  permit.  We  will,  if  you  please,  proceed  at 
once  to  business." 

Mr.  Fenwick  displayed  such  unusual  spirit  that 
Deacon  Crane  was  electrified. 

"The  minister's  gettin'  on  his  high  horse,"  he 
said  to  himself.  "It's  a  mystery  to  me  where  Guy 
got  so  much  money.  I  won't  rest  till  I  find  out." 

The  money  was  paid,  and  Mr.  Fenwick  breathed 


176       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

a  sigh  of  relief  when  he  realized  that  his  little 
property  was  at  last  free  from  incumbrance. 

Deacon  Crane  left  the  house  in  a  state  of  bewil 
derment  even  exceeding  his  disappointment.  How 
on  earth  Guy  could  have  come  to  his  father's  assist 
ance  he  could  not  understand. 

He  determined  to  question  the  minister's  son  at 
the  first  opportunity. 

He  had  not  long  to  wait. 

He  had  walked  but  two  hundred  yards  when  he 
met  Guy  sauntering  along  with  a  pleasant  smile  on 
his  face. 

"Here,  you,  Guy!"  he  called  out,  unceremonious 
ly.  "Your  father  tells  me  you  have  lent  him  five 
hundred  dollars." 

"I  hope  you  don't  doubt  my  father's  word,"  said 
Guy,  amused  by  the  deacon's  evident  perplexity. 

"I  don't  doubt  it,  for  I've  got  the  money  in  my 
wallet.  The  question  is,  where  did  you  get  it?" 

"Yes,  that  is  the  question." 

"What  have  you  got  to  say  for  yourself?"  de 
manded  the  deacon,  sharply. 

"Only  that  I  was  very  glad  to  oblige  my  dear 
father." 

"I  don't  mean  that.  Where  did  you  get  the 
money?" 

"From  my  employer." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       177 

"Aha !  That's  what  I  thought.  Don't  you  know 
you're  likely  to  be  arrested  for  makin'  such  poor 
use  of  your  employer's  money?" 

"But  you're  mistaken,  Deacon  Crane.  It  was 
'not  my  employer's  money." 

"Just  now  you  said  it  was." 

"No,  I  didn't.  I  said  I  got  it  from  my  employer. 
The  money  was  mine." 

"Do  you  mean  to  say  he  gave  it  to  you?" 

"Yes,  but  not  as  a  gift.  I  was  and  am  still  in 
his  employ." 

"And  I  s'pose  he  gives  you  five  or  six  dollars  a 
week.  You  can't  save  any  five  hundred  dollars  out 
of  that." 

"That's  true,  Deacon  Crane.  You  are  a  good 
mathematician.  He  pays  me  very  handsomely." 

"How  old  be  you?" 

"Seventeen."  ' 

"All  that  I  can  say  is  that  he  must  be  a  fool  to 
pay  a  big  salary  to  a  boy  like  you,  and  you  are 
very  foolish  to  give  up  all  the  money  you  have  to 
your  father." 

"I  have  a  little  money  left,"  said  Guy,  smiling. 
"If,  now,  you  were  in  a  tight  place,  I  might  be  able 
to  lend  you  a  hundred  dollars." 

"I  am  never  in  a  tight  place,"  returned  the  dea 
con,  proudly,  "but  I  think  it  would  be  wise  and 


178       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

prudent  for  you  to  put  the  money  in  my  hands  for 
safe  keeping.  I'll  be  willin'  to  pay  you  three  per 
cent." 

"Thank  you,  Deacon  Crane,  but  I  can  do  better 
than  that." 

"You  seem  to  be  a  very  reckless  boy,  Guy  Fen- 
wick.  Yon  don't  seem  to  have  no  judgment.  You 
won't  keep  that  money  long." 

"I  am  afraid,  Deacon  Crane,  you  haven't  much 
confidence  in  me." 

"No,  I  haven't.  Your  father  ain't  practical, 
and  you  take  after  him." 

Guy  smiled  and  passed  on. 

During  the  afternoon  he  fell  in  with  Noah 
Crane,  who  had  heard  from  his  father  the  aston 
ishing  news  about  Guy's  prosperity.  It  influenced 
that  young  man  to  seek  an  intimacy  with  his  fortu 
nate  schoolfellow. 

"I  say,  Guy,"  he  began,  "is  it  true  that  you've 
got  a  lot  of  money  ?  Pop  tells  me  you've  been  lend 
ing  your  father  five  hundred  dollars." 

"That  is  true." 

"And  you  offered  to  lend  pop  one  hundred  dol 
lars." 

"But  he  declined." 

"It'll  be  all  the  same  if  you  lend  it  to  me,"  said 
Noah,  eagerly. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       179 

"What  do  you  want  to  do  with  it? 

"I  want  to  buy  a  bicycle.  I  can  get  a  safety,  sec 
ond-hand,  for  seventy-five  dollars." 

"How  could  you  pay  me  back?'7 

"I  guess  I  can  get  the  money  out  of  father  next 
year.  Do  now,  that's  a  good  fellow." 

"If  you  can  get  for  me  your  father's  note  of 
hand  for  the  money  and  interest,  say  on  a  year's 
time,  I  might  consent  to  do  it." 

"But  he  won't  give  it  to  me." 

"Then  I  can't  lend  you  the  money." 

Noah  pleaded,  but  in  vain. 

Five  minutes  later  Guy  had  a  pleasant  surprise. 
Coming  up  the  road  from  the  station  he  met  Cap 
tain  Grover  of  the  Osprey. 


180       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXII 

THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  OSPREY 

"Guv,  my  son!"  said  Captain  Grover,  his  face 
lighting  up  with  unmistakable  joy.  "It  does  me 
good  to  see  you  again.  Why,  you're  quite  two 
inches  taller  than  when  we  parted  at  Bombay." 

"Yes,  captain;  I  think  I  have  grown,"  returned 
Guy,  complacently.  "When  did  you  get  back?" 

"Only  last  week.  You  are  here  almost  as  soon 
as  I.  Have  you  got  through  working  for  Mr. 
Saunders?" 

"Oh,  no.  I  am  still  in  his  employ.  I  went  to 
England  to  attend  to  some  business  for  him,  and 
I  am  now  in  America  on  the  same  errand." 

"And  does  he  make  it  worth  your  while?" 

"Yes,"  answered  Guy,  smiling.  "I  won't  go 
into  particulars.  I  haven't  done  that  even  with 
my  father.  I  will  tell  you,  however,  that  since  I 
have  been  home  I  have  paid  off  a  five  hundred  dol 
lar  mortgage  on  the  parsonage." 

"That  is  capital  I     Evidently  Mr.  Saunders  is 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       181 

a  liberal  man;  and  I  am  sure  I  am  very  glad,  not 
only  for  your  sake,  but  for  the  sake  of  my  old 
friend,  your  father.  How  long  do  you  stay  in 
Bayport?" 

"That  depends  partly  upon  you." 

"How  is  that?" 

"I  may  be  your  passenger  on  your  next  voyage." 

uYou  mean  to  go  back  to  Bombay,  then?" 

"Yes;  or  at  least  in  that  direction.  How  long 
before  you  will  start?" 

"Well,  you  see,  Guy,  that  isn't  an  easy  question 
to  answer." 

"Why  not,  captain?"  asked  Guy,  puzzled. 

"I'll  tell  you.  I  have  been  cruising  about  for 
about  fifteen  years  without  any  vacation,  and  I  am 
minded  to  stay  at  home  for  six  months  at  least, 
more  especially  as  my  only  sister  is  coming  on  from 
Wisconsin,  where  she  has  been  living  ever  since  her 
marriage,  twenty  years  since.  There  are  only  two 
of  us  now,  for  all  the  rest  of  the  family  are  dead, 
and  I  may  never  see  her  again,  as  she  means  to  go 
back  to  Wisconsin  after  her  visit." 

"I  see,  captain,"  said  Guy,  in  a  tone  of  disap 
pointment.  "Of  course,  I  can't  blame  you,  but  it 
will  interfere  with  my  plans." 

"I  don't  see  why  that  should  be,  Guy." 

"I  can't  wait  six  months." 


182       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"You  won't  need  to.  The  Osprey  will  sail  just 
the  same  as  ever,  but  for  this  one  voyage  it  will 
have  a  different  commander.  You  ain't  set  on 
sailing  with  me,  are  you  ?" 

"I  should  certainly  prefer  to  sail  with  you,  cap 
tain;  but  the  main  reason  is  that  I  should  be  more 
likely  to  make  the  arrangement  with  you  that  I 
desire.  Who  is  to  command  the  Osprey  in  your 
place?" 

"It's  an  Englishman,  Captain  John  Richmond. 
I  have  seen  him,  but  I  don't  know  him  very  well. 
I  am  told  that  he  is  a  thorough  seaman,  however." 

"I  don't  doubt  that,  as  your  owners  have  thought 
fit  to  employ  him.  But  the  arrangement  I  want 
to  make  is  a  very  peculiar  one,  and  I  should  feel 
more  sure  of  doing  it  if  you  were  to  be  still  in 
command." 

"You  puzzle  me,  Guy.  Heave  ahead,  and  let 
me  know  what  you  are  driving  at." 

"You  are  going  to  the  house,  are  you  not?" 

"Yes.  I  came  down  to  take  supper  with  your 
father,  and  I  may  stay  over-night  if  he  will  keep 


me." 


"He  will  be  delighted  to  do  that.  It  would  take 
me  too  long  to  explain  myself  now,  but  I  will  go 
back  to  New  Bedford  with  you  to-morrow  morn 
ing,  and  then  we  will  talk  the  matter  over.  One 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       183 

thing,  however,  I  will  ask.  Say  nothing  of  it  to 
father,  as  I  do  not  propose  to  tell  him." 

"Is  that  right,  Guy?" 

"Yes.  Father  isn't  a  practical  man,  as  you 
know,  and  could  not  advise  me  in  the  matter.  I 
have  talked  it  over  with  Mr.  Saunders,  who  is  a 
shrewd  man  of  business,  and  I  think  we  can  trust 
to  his  judgment." 

"To  be  sure !  to  be  sure !  Let  it  lay  over  till 
to-morrow,  then." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  parsonage, 
and  the  minister  welcomed  his  guest  with  unaffected 
cordiality. 

"Well,  Fenwick,  you  are  not  sorry  you  trusted 
Guy  to  me,  are  you  ?" 

"No  !  no !  my  old  friend !  Nothing  but  good  has 
come  to  him.  He  has  been  wonderfully  fortunate, 
and  has  helped  me  out  of  what  might  have  proved 
a  serious  trouble." 

"Aye,  Fenwick,  he  is  a  good  boy." 

"I  am  only  sorry  that  my  necessities  have  robbed 
the  poor  boy  of  his  hard  earnings.  I  have  been 
blaming  myself  for  my  selfishness  in  accepting  it." 

"Don't  worry  about  that,  father.  I  have  money 
left,  as  much  as  I  shall  need.  Besides,  I  am  still 
in  Mr.  Saunders'  employ,  and  am  receiving  a  lib 
eral  salary." 


184       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"By  the  way,  Guy,"  said  the  captain,  "how  much 
are  you  receiving?" 

"I  would  tell  you,  if  I  knew,  Captain  Glover,  but 
the  amount  has  not  been  decided  upon.  I  am  sure 
of  one  thing — that  it  will  be  large.  Besides,  I  am 
authorized  to  draw  what  I  need." 

"It  is  wonderful  that  a  boy  of  Guy's  age  should 
be  so  trusted,"  said  Mr.  Fenwick. 

"True;  but  Mr.  Saunders  is  under  the  strongest 
of  obligations  to  him." 

"How  is  that?" 

"Didn't  Guy  tell  you  that  he  had  saved  his  em 
ployer's  life?" 

"No,"  answered  the  minister,  in  great  surprise. 
"Why  didn't  you  tell  me,  Guy?" 

"It  didn't  come  into  my  mind,  father." 

"You  are  modest,  Guy,"  said  the  captain. 

"On  the  contrary,  I  might  have  wished  father 
to  understand  that  it  was  my  business  ability  that 
influenced  Mr.  Saunders  to  offer  me  employment." 

The  ctory  was  told,  and  it  was  clear  that  it  made 
Mr.  Fenwick  more  than  ever  proud  of  Guy. 

"Besides,"  added  Captain  Grover,  "if  Guy  had 
not  shown  business  ability  he  would  not  have  been 
trusted  with  so  important  a  commission." 

Guy  did  not  tell  the  captain  of  the  thousand 
pounds  which  had  been  given  him  by  Mr.  Saun- 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       185 

ders  as  part  compensation  for  a  share  in  the  island 
treasure.  He  did  not  care  that  anyone  should  know 
the  extent  of  his  good  fortune. 

Besides,  if  things  went  well,  and  the  expedition 
which  he  was  arranging  should  prove  successful, 
he  hoped  to  secure  a  considerably  larger  sum.  This, 
however,  was  not  certain.  But  whichever  way 
things  turned  out,  the  five  thousand  dollars  were 
his,  and  he  wouldn't  be  expected  to  return  them. 
Even  if  he  got  no  more,  he  would  feel  amply  repaid 
for  his  trouble  in  examining  his  uncle  George's 
chest. 

Nothing  more  was  said  during  the  evening  about 
business.  The  next  morning,  after  breakfast,  Guy 
notified  his  father  that  he  would  go  up  to  New  Bed 
ford  with  Captain  Grover. 

Upon  this  the  minister  made  no  comment.  He 
had  come  to  look  upon  Guy  as  his  own  master. 

Considering  that  he  had  already  visited  India 
and  England,  this  was  not  surprising,  although 
Guy  still  lacked  several  years  of  his  majority. 


186       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

ON  THE  WAY  TO  NEW  BEDFORD 

ON  the  way  to  New  Bedford,  Guy  broached  the 
subject  of  engaging  the  Osprey  to  visit  the  Agale- 
gas  Islands  during  her  next  cruise. 

"Then  Mr.  Saunders  believes  in  the  buried  treas 
ure?"  said  Captain  Grover. 

"He  thinks  there  is  a  fair  chance  of  it  existing." 

"Let  me  understand,  then.  He  is  willing  to  pay 
for  the  extra  time  the  voyage  will  be  prolonged  in 
order  to  make  this  side  trip  ?" 

"Yes,  captain." 

"I  think  it  will  be  a  wildgoose  chase,  for  my 
part,"  remarked  the  captain,  slowly. 

"Perhaps  so,  but  Mr.  Saunders  seems  willing  to 
take  the  risk." 

"Well,  he  is  certainly  able  to  do  so.  He  is  a 
very  rich  man." 

"Have  you  any  idea  how  rich?"  asked  Guy,  with 
natural  curiosity. 

"I  have  heard  it  Conjectured  that  he  is  worth  a 
million  pounds." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       187 

"That  is  five  million  dollars." 

"Yes." 

"That  is  a  great  deal  of  money." 

"True.  Of  course,  it  is  only  conjecture,  but  it 
is  just  as  likely  that  he  is  worth  more  as  that  he  is 
worth  less." 

"I  think  there  is  no  doubt  that  he  will  be  able  to 
pay  me  my  salary,  then,"  said  Guy,  smiling. 

"There  is  not  much  doubt  about  that.  It  occurs 
to  me  as  strange,  since  he  is  so  rich,  that  he  should 
take  any  trouble  about  this  treasure,  which  may  not 
exist,  after  all." 

"I  really  think,  Captain  Grover,  that  Mr.  Saun- 
ders  cares  very  little  about  it." 

"Why,  then,  should  he  incur  such  an  outlay  in 
searching  for  it?" 

"I  will  tell  you  what  I  think.  Though  of  very 
little  importance  to  him,  it  is  of  a  great  deal  of 
importance  to  me.  I  think  it  is  this  consideration 
that  influences  him." 

"And  very  properly,  too,  since  you  saved  his 
life." 

"That  may  be,  but  I  appreciate  his  kindness, 
nevertheless." 

A  little  later  Guy  asked:  "Do  you  think  your 
owners  will  be  willing  to  make  an  arrangement  for 
this  side  voyage?" 


188       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"That  depends  on  two  things:    First,  whether 
Mr.  Saunders  will  pay  a  sum  that  will  compensate 
them  for  their  trouble;  and  secondly,  whether  he 
will  be  able  to  pay  the  terms  they  may  ask." 
"There  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  last." 
"No;  and  this  I  will  assure  them.    I  have  known 
for  years  Mr.  Saunders'  financial  standing,  and  his 
strict  sense  of  honor.     You  have   documents  to 
show  that  you  are  his  accredited  agent?" 

"Yes,  captain.  Besides,  I  can  refer  them  to  Mr. 
Frazer,  his  New  York  correspondent." 

"He,  too,  is  well  known.  There  will  be  no  diffi 
culty  on  that  score." 

"Have  you  seen  this  Captain  Richmond?" 
"No;  but  I  shall  probably  meet  him  to-day." 
"I  wish  I  were  going  to  sail  with  you." 
"So  do  I ;  but  you  see  how  I  am  situated.    If  you 

were  willing  to  wait  six  months " 

"But  I  could  not  do  that.  I  could  not  remain 
idle  for  so  long.  Besides,  I  don't  think  Mr.  Saun 
ders  will  approve  it." 

"Then  we  will  drop  that  idea.  I  will  introduce 
you  to  my  owners,  and  speak  a  good  word  for  you. 
I  am  sure  if  they  agree,  they  will  be  reasonable  in 
their  charges." 

"How  soon  will  the  Osprey  be  ready  to  start 
again  ?" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE        189 

"In  about  two  weeks.  By  the  way,  Guy,  I  have 
a  suggestion  to  make." 

"What  is  it?" 

"Suppose  you  find  the  island  and  the  treasure, 
you  can't  take  charge  of  it  single-handed." 

UI  have  been  thinking  about  that,  and  it  puzzled 
me.  What  would  you  advise  me  to  do?" 

"I  advise  you  to  take  two  good,  strong,  reliable 
men  with  you  who  will  be  able  and  willing  to  co 
operate  with  you  in  carrying  out  your  plans.  A 
boy,  single-handed,  would  be  at  the  mercy  of  de 
signing  or  dishonest  men." 

"I  see  that." 

"If  you  were  sailing  with  me,  you  would  need 
no  one  else,  as  I  would  see  that  no  one  interfered 
with  you;  but  that  cannot  be." 

"Where  can  I  find  any  such  men  as  you  speak 
of?  Do  you  know  anyone  you  can  recommend?" 

Captain  Grover  looked  thoughtful.  Finally  his 
face  lighted  up. 

"Yes,"  he  said.  "I  think  I  can  find  someone. 
I  have  a  brother-in-law,  Abner  Titcomb,  living  in 
Vernon,  Maine,  who  is  at  present  out  of  employ 
ment.  He  is  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  naturally 
a  strong,  muscular  man.  I  think  he  would  be 
glad  to  accept  an  appointment,  if  you  would  feel 
authorized  to  pay  him  good,  fair  wages." 


190       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  would  do  so.    Now  as  to  the  second  man." 

"It  will  be  best  to  leave  the  selection  to  Abner. 
No  doubt  he  can  find  some  personal  friend  in  the 
village  who  will  be  as  well  fitted  as  himself  for  the 
work." 

"That  strikes  me  favorably." 

"Very  well;  when  you  have  made  an  arrange 
ment  with  the  owners,  and  it  is  fully  settled  that  you 
will  go,  I  will  write  to  Abner  to  come  right  on  and 
talk  the  matter  over." 

"All  right,  Captain  Grover.  You  are  doing  me 
a  great  service." 

"Do  you  know,  Guy,  I  can't  help  wondering 
whenever  I  think  of  you,  a  boy  of  seventeen,  with 
such  a  load  of  responsibility  on  his  shoulders. 
Why,  only  a  few  months  ago,  I  thought  of  you  as 
a  mere  schoolboy.  Now  you  are  the  leader  of  a 
very  important  expedition.  There  are  men  who 
would  not  be  competent  to  fill  the  place  that  has 
been  assigned  to  you." 

"I  am  not  certain  that  I  am  competent  myself," 
said  Guy,  seriously. 

"I  am  sure  you  will  do  your  best.  You  are  not 
afraid?  You  have  no  misgivings  as  to  the  out 
come?" 

"No.  On  the  contrary,  I  think  I  enjoy  the  pros 
pect." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"That  will  help  you  to  succeed.  But  here  we 
are  at  the  station.  I  will  conduct  you  to  the  office 
of  my  owners,  John  and  Charles  Gray." 


192       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

ARRANGING    FOR   THE   VOYAGE 

CAPTAIN  GROVER  introduced  Guy  to  John  and 
Charles  Gray,  the  shipping  merchants,  by  whom 
he  had  been  for  years  employed. 

Looking  upon  Guy  as  a  boy,  they  simply  shook 
hands  with  him,  and  did  not  feel  called  upon  to 
pay  him  any  further  attention;  but  when  the  cap 
tain  explained  his  business  they  regarded  him  with 
curiosity  and  surprise. 

"I  can  hardly  believe,"  said  the  senior  of  the 
two,  "that  this  boy  can  have  received  such  an  im 
portant  commission." 

"I  am  not  surprised  at  that,"  returned  the  cap 
tain.  "It  certainly  does  seem  unlikely.  I  can  as 
sure  you,  however,  that  there  is  no  mistake  about 


it." 


"I  don't  believe  much  in  hunting  for  treasures, 
especially  at  the  other  end  of  the  world.  To  my 
mind  there  is  not  one  chance  in  ten  of  finding  what 
is  sought  after." 

"Let  me  call  your  attention  to  this  fact,  Mr. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       193 

Gray,  that  your  compensation  will  not  depend  upon 
the  finding  of  the  treasure.  Mr.  Saunders,  the 
boy's  employer,  is  a  man  of  vast  wealth,  and  he 
backs  the  enterprise.  No  matter  if  it  is  a  failure, 
he  will  pay  you  what  he  agrees  to." 

uTo  be  sure,  to  be  sure,  that  is  important.  If 
we  are  protected,  of  course,  we  need  not  trouble 
ourselves  as  to  the  result  of  the  quest." 

"Exactly  so." 

"The  next  question  is,  will  Mr.  Saunders  be  will 
ing  to  pay  enough  to  make  up  to  us  for  the  in 
creased  length  of  the  voyage?" 

"That  is  a  matter  for  the  boy  to  decide.  Mr. 
Saunders  has  given  him  full  power  to  act  for  him." 

"How  much  time  do  you  think  you  will  need, 
Mr.  Fenwick?"  asked  the  merchant. 

"I  have  talked  the  matter  over  with  Captain 
Grover,  and  have  decided  that  I  had  better  con 
tract  for  two  months." 

"And  should  the  time  be  prolonged?" 

"I  will,  of  course,  pay  an  additional  sum." 

"That  is  satisfactory." 

"I  ought  to  mention,  also,"  said  Guy,  "that  I 
intend  to  have  two  men  with  me  to  assist  me  in 
taking  possession  of  the  treasure,  if  I  find  it." 

"Then,  in  addition  to  paying  for  the  vessel,  there 
will  be  three  passengers,  including  yourself?" 


194       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Yes,  sir." 

"If  you  will  call  to-morrow,  we  will  be  prepared 
to  submit  our  terms.  We  shall  need  to  talk  matters 
over,  and  estimate  what  sum  we  must  ask  to  make 
ourselves  good." 

"Very  well,  Mr.  Gray.  Then  I  will  come  into 
New  Bedford  again  to-morrow." 

"No,  Guy,  you  must  stay  at  my  house  for  the 
night,"  interposed  the  captain.  "It  is  long  since 
you  have  been  my  guest,  and  my  wife  and  daughter 
will  be  very  glad  to  see  you." 

"Thank  you,  captain.  I  shall  be  glad  to  accept 
your  invitation." 

The  next  day,  Guy,  accompanied  by  the  captain, 
called  again  at  the  office  of  the  brothers  Gray. 

They  submitted  a  proposal  which,  after  consult 
ing  with  Captain  Grover,  Guy  pronounced  satis 
factory. 

"Now  that  all  is  settled  about  the  voyage,  I  will 
write  to  my  brother-in-law." 

"I  shall  be  glad  to  have  him  come  to  New  Bed 
ford  at  once,"  said  Guy,  "and  his  friend,  too.  You 
may  say  in  your  letter  that  his  wages  will  commence 
as  soon  as  he  reports  for  duty." 

"That  will  remove  every  obstacle.  My  brother- 
in-law  is  a  poor  man,  and  he  would  not  be  able  to 
remain  here  any  length  of  time  on  expense." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       195 

Captain  Grover  dispatched  a  letter  at  once. 

Abner  Titcomb  answered  it  in  person.  He 
brought  with  him  a  man  as  tall  and  muscular  as 
himself,  but  probably  about  ten  years  younger. 

Luke  Clark  was  thirty  years  of  age,  and  Abner 
Titcomb  forty-one. 

Guy  was  pleased  with  his  companions.  They 
looked  honest  and  reliable,  and  in  case  he  got  into 
any  trouble  they  were  abundantly  able  to  protect 
him. 

Titcomb's  arms  were  hard  and  muscular,  and 
Luke  Clark,  who  was  a  farmer,  was  a  good  match 
for  him. 

Guy  advanced  the  two  men  money  to  buy  an 
outfit,  and  when  the  time  came  to  sail  all  were  in 
readiness. 

It  was  not  till  the  day  of  sailing  that  Guy  saw 
Captain  John  Richmond,  the  new  commander  of 
the  Osprey. 


196       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXV 

CAPTAIN  RICHMOND 

CAPTAIN  GROVER  went  on  board  the  Osprey 
when  she  was  ready  to  sail. 

"Captain  Richmond,"  said  the  old  captain,  "this 
is  my  young  friend,  Guy  Fenwick,  who  has  en 
gaged  you  to  take  him  to  one  of  the  Agalegas 
Islands." 

Captain  Richmond  was  a  tall,  dark-complex 
ioned  man,  with  a  sallow  skin,  and  an  unpleasant 
expression  of  countenance. 

"Humph,  a  boy !"  he  said,  in  a  tone  by  no  means 
cordial. 

"Yes,  a  boy,  Captain  Richmond,  but  quite  as 
much  entitled  to  consideration  as  a  man.  He  rep 
resents  the  wealthiest  English  merchant  in  Bom 
bay." 

Captain  Richmond  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"I  don't  half  like  leaving  the  direct  course,"  he 
said.  "It  seems  like  a  crazy  idea." 

He  seemed  determined  to  make  himself  disagree 
able.  Guy  felt  it,  and  he  more  than  ever  regretted 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       197 

that  he  was  not  to  sail  with  his  friend,  Captain 
Grover. 

The  latter  was  considerably  annoyed,  and  he 
said,  sharply:  "I  take  it,  Captain  Richmond,  that 
this  is  no  concern  of  yours.  This  young  man  has 
made  a  contract  with  the  owners,  and  he  has  agreed 
to  pay  them  well  for  the  extra  length  of  the  voy- 
age." 

"It  strikes  me,  Captain  Grover,  that  you  are  tak 
ing  a  liberty  in  talking  to  me  in  this  style,"  said 
Captain  Richmond,  angrily.  "I  am  the  captain, 
not  you !" 

"True;  but  I  know  the  captain's  duties.  The 
owners  have  made  a  certain  agreement  with  my 
young  friend  here,  and  it  is  as  his  friend  that  I 
warn  you  that  this  contract  must  be  carried  out  in 
good  faith." 

"I  will  thank  you  to  mind  your  own  business," 
retorted  Captain  Richmond,  wrathfully. 

"I  propose  to  do  so,  and  should  you  attempt  to 
interfere  with  Guy  in  carrying  out  his  plans,  I  will 
report  this  conversation  to  the  owners  of  the  Os- 
prey." 

This  was  said  so  sternly,  and  in  such  a  deter 
mined  tone,  that  Captain  Richmond  did  not  dare 
to  reply.  He  turned  on  his  heel  without  a  word 
and  walked  away. 


198       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  am  afraid  I  shall  have  trouble  with  the  cap 
tain,"  said  Guy,  when  the  latter  was  out  of  hearing. 
"I  wish  so  much  that  you  were  in  command." 

"I  wish  so,  too,  Guy;  but  you  understand  why 
I  have  taken  a  vacation." 

"Evidently  Captain  Richmond  doesn't  like  the 
idea  of  leaving  the  direct  course." 

"No;  but  it  is  none  of  his  business.  That  is  a 
matter  between  you,  representing  Mr.  Saunders, 
and  the  owners." 

"I  think  my  being  a  boy  may  lead  to  his  treat 
ing  me  with  less  ceremony." 

"The  only  thing  to  do,  Guy,  is  to  stick  up  for 
your  rights.  Even  if  you  are  a  boy,  your  rights  are 
just  the  same.  Should  the  captain  break  the  con 
tract,  you  could,  of  course,  withhold  the  money  you 
have  agreed  to  pay  the  owners,  and  this  would  get 
him  into  hot  water." 

"You  advise  me,  then,  to  be  firm?" 

"Surely.  It  is  your  right  and  your  duty.  And 
by  the  way,  Guy,  you  will  remember  that  you  are 
not  alone.  You  have  two  strong  and  able  assistants 
who  are  not  boys,  but  independent  men.  They  will 
help  you  to  enforce  your  rights." 

"I  see  that  your  advice  to  me  was  good.  Had 
I  gone  alone,  I  am  afraid  my  plans  would  have 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE        199 

failed.  Does  the  captain  know  why  I  want  to 
visit  the  island?" 

"I  presume  so.  Probably  he  thinks  it  a  foolish 
enterprise,  and  that  may  account  in  part  for  his 
cavalier  treatment  of  you.  Of  course,  it  is  none 
of  his  business,  and  you  need  not  hesitate  to  hint 
as  much  if  he  begins  to  talk  roughly." 

Guy  considered  this  good  advice,  and  deter 
mined  to  act  upon  it.  He  felt  that  he  must  deport 
himself  in  a  manner  which  might  be  unbecoming 
in  an  ordinary  boy,  but  was  called  for  by  the  fact 
that  he  was  acting  for  Mr.  Saunders.  It  was  his 
duty  to  guard  the  interests  of  his  employer. 

When  he  bade  good-bye  to  Captain  Grover  he 
felt  a  presentiment  that  the  voyage  on  which  he 
had  embarked  would  be  an  unpleasant  one,  and 
that  Captain  Richmond  would  make  it  so.  But 
Guy  had  pluck,  and  though  he  expected  a  conflict, 
he  did  not  fear  it. 

The  first  outbreak  came  very  soon  after  the  sail 
ing  of  the  Osprey. 

Dinner  was  announced.  Guy  was,  of  course,  to 
eat  at  the  captain's  table,  but  when  he  entered  he 
found  that  no  seats  had  been  placed  for  his  two 
assistants. 

"How  is  this,  Captain  Richmond?"  said  Guy, 


200       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

as  he  took  his  seat.  "I  see  no  places  at  the  table 
for  Mr.  Titcomb  and  Mr.  Clark." 

"They  will  eat  with  the  sailors,"  replied  the 
captain,  curtly. 

"I  beg  pardon,  Captain  Richmond,"  said  Guy, 
calmly,  though  he  was  very  angry,  "I  will  consent 
to  no  such  arrangement." 

"You  won't,  eh?"  snarled  the  captain.  "Who 
is  the  captain  of  this  craft — you  or  I  ?" 

"You,  sir;  but  my  arrangement  was  not  made 
with  you,  but  with  the  Messrs.  Gray." 

"These  men  are  your  servants.  I  don't  have 
servants  at  my  table." 

"They  are  not  my  servants.  They,  like  myself, 
are  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Saunders,  of  Bombay." 

"I  don't  know  Mr.  Saunders." 

"Perhaps  not;  but  I  do.  I  know  that  unless 
these  gentlemen  are  treated  with  proper  respect  and 
consideration  he  will  refuse  to  pay  the  sum  he  has 
contracted  to  give  your  owners." 

"I  am  an  English  captain,  and  do  not  care  to 
meet  common  men  on  an  equality." 

"These  men  whom  you  call  common  are  as  good 
as  you  or  myself.  One  of  them  is  the  brother-in- 
law  of  Captain  Grover;  the  other  is  his  friend. 
But,  above  all,  they  are  American  citizens,  and  as 
such  are  entitled  to  respect." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       201 

"I  haven't  much  respect  for  a  Yankee,"  mut 
tered  the  captain. 

"I  won't  argue  with  you  on  that  point,  though 
I  am  myself  a  Yankee,"  returned  Guy.  "I  will, 
however,  call  your  attention  to  the  contract  I  made 
with  your  owners,  the  Messrs.  Gray.  It  is  express 
ly  stated  that  these  men  are  to  be  received  as  first- 
class  passengers,  and  to  be  treated  as  such.  Will 
you  be  kind  enough  to  cast  your  eyes  over  this  docu 
ment?" 

Captain  Richmond  reluctantly  took  from  Guy's 
hand  the  paper  he  extended  to  him,  and  looked 
over  it. 

It  was  as  Guy  had  stated.  Titcomb  and  Clark 
were  designated  as  first-class  passengers,  and  were 
to  be  treated  as  such. 

"I  am  surprised,"  said  the  captain,  in  a  tone  of 
annoyance,  "that  Messrs.  Gray  should  have  made 
such  an  agreement." 

"It  is  conclusive,  however,"  returned  Guy,  cold 
ly.  "Will  you  kindly  see  that  seats  are  placed  for 
my  two  companions?" 

"It  shall  be  done  at  the  next  meal.  To-day  they 
can  eat  as  soon  as  we  have  finished." 

Though  Guy  might  have  demanded  more  than 
this,  he  did  not  care  to  make  a  fuss.  He  felt  that 
in  the  controversy  he  had  carried  Lis  point. 


202       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Guy  spoke  of  the  matter  afterward  to  the  two 
men. 

"Why,"  exclaimed  Abner  Titcomb,  "the  mean 
upstart !  So  he  thinks  we  are  not  fit  to  sit  at  the 
table  with  his  royal  highness,  does  he?  If  I  had 
him  at  my  home  in  Maine  we  would  soon  see  who 
is  the  best  man." 

"I  wouldn't  have  consented  to  eat  with  the  sail 
ors,"  said  Luke  Clark,  "though  there  isn't  a  sailor 
aboard  that  I  don't  feel  as  much  respect  for  as  I 
do  for  Captain  Richmond.  But  I  know  that  he 
meant  to  insult  and  degrade  us,  and  I  have  too 
much  respect  for  myself  as  an  American  citizen 
to  allow  that." 

Though  Guy  had  carried  his  point,  neither  he 
nor  his  companions  enjoyed  their  meals  at  the  cap 
tain's  table.  The  only  other  person  who  sat  there 
was  the  mate,  and  he  would  often  be  on  duty,  so 
that  he  would  not  eat  at  the  same  time  with  them. 

His  name  was  Forbush,  and  he  was  a  New 
Hampshire  man,  as  agreeable  as  the  captain  was 
morose. 

Generally  there  was  very  little  conversation  at 
meal-time.  Captain  Richmond  addressed  Guy,  but 
seldom  vouchsafed  a  word  to  Titcomb  or  Clark. 

"I  wish  Forbush  were  captain,"  said  Abner  Tit- 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       203 

comb,  one  day.  "He  is  one  of  our  own  people, 
while  Captain  Richmond  has  no  sympathy  for  us." 

"I  wonder  why  the  owners  gave  the  command 
to  such  a  man?"  added  Luke  Clark. 

"He  is  an  experienced  seaman,  and  understands 
his  business,  so  Captain  Grover  told  me.  I  sup 
pose  that  accounts  for  it,"  answered  Guy. 

"I  am  afraid  we  shall  see  trouble  before  the 
end  of  the  voyage,"  said  Titcomb,  lowering  his 
voice.  "I  will  tell  you  what  I  have  heard  of  the 
captain  from  one  of  the  sailors." 


204       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

A  BRUTAL  CAPTAIN 

No  ONE  on  board  liked  Captain  Richmond.  He 
was  a  surly,  disagreeable  man,  who  liked  better  to 
sneer  than  to  smile. 

He  was  a  great  contrast  to  Captain  Grover,  with 
his  pleasant,  hearty  manners.  Guy  tolerated  him, 
and  treated  him  respectfully,  but  Abner  Titcomb 
and  Luke  Clark  repaid  his  rudeness  with  coldness. 

They  had  the  self-respect  of  independent  Ameri 
can  citizens,  and  would  not  overlook  the  uncalled 
for  and  studied  impoliteness  of  the  captain. 

Captain  Richmond  had  one  redeeming  feature. 
He  was  a  good  seaman.  He  seemed  well  qualified 
for  the  command  of  a  merchant  vessel. 

He  was  strict  in  his  discipline,  but  that  is  always 
required.  Captain  Grover  was  strict,  and  his  crew 
liked  him.  On  the  other  hand,  there  was  not  a 
sailor  who  did  not  dislike  Captain  Richmond, 

Among  the  seamen  was  a  young  fellow  of  nine 
teen,  from  Castine,  Maine.  He  was  known  to 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       205 

Abner  Titcomb,  who,  while  on  a  visit  to  that  town, 
had  become  acquainted  with  James  Low  and  his 
family. 

As  Titcomb  had  not  seen  Low  since  he  was  a 
boy  of  fifteen,  he  did  not  immediately  recognize 
him  till  James  called  him  by  name.  The  boy 
seemed  very  much  pleased  to  find  on  board  one 
with  whom  he  had  had  a  previous  acquaintance. 

Titcomb  was  speakng  to  the  young  sailor  one 
day  when  Captain  Richmond  came  up. 

"Mr.  Titcomb,"  he  said,  uwhat  can  you  have 
to  say  to  one  of  my  crew  ?" 

The  tone  was  insolent,  and  Abner  Titcomb  re 
sented  it. 

"It  happens,  Captain  Richmond,"  he  replied, 
"that  this  young  fellow  and  I  are  old  acquaint 
ances.  I  know  him  and  his  family." 

"That  may  be,  sir,"  returned  the  captain,  with 
an  incredulous  sneer. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that,  Captain  Rich 
mond?  Do  you  mean  to  doubt  my  word?" 

"I  would  have  you  understand,  Mr.  Titcomb, 
that  I  am  the  captain  of  this  ship,  and  I  will  not 
tolerate  insolence  from  you  or  any  other  man!" 

"There  has  been  no  insolence  except  on  your 
part.  I  am  a  passenger  on  thu  ^ssel,  and  I  claim 
to  be  treated  with  civility." 


206       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

He  looked  the  captain  straight  in  the  face,  and 
there  was  a  look  of  determination  in  his  eyes  that 
made  Captain  Richmond,  who  was  a  bully,  but  not 
brave,  think  he  had  gone  far  enough. 

"I  prefer  that  you  should  not  speak  to  any  mem 
ber  of  my  crew,"  he  rejoined,  as  he  turned  abruptly 
away. 

"James,"  said  Titcomb,  "as  I  don't  wish  to  get 
you  into  any  trouble,  I  will  hereafter  seek  oppor 
tunities  to  speak  to  you  when  the  captain  is  not  on 
deck." 

"I  wish  Captain  Grover  were  in  command,"  re 
plied  the  boy.  "He  was  a  gentleman." 

From  this  time  Captain  Richmond  seemed  to 
transfer  to  James  Low  some  of  the  dislike  he  felt 
for  Titcomb.  The  latter  was  not  in  his  power,  but 
as  James  Low  was  only  a  sailor,  it  was  a  simple 
matter  to  make  things  uncomfortable  for  him. 

One  morning  Low  appeared  on  deck  looking 
pale  and  ill.  He  had  malaria  in  his  system,  and 
when  he  shipped  he  was  not  in  good  physical  con 
dition. 

"What  is  the  matter,  James?"  asked  Abner  Tit- 
comb,  who  was  struck  by  the  young  fellow's  ap 
pearance. 

"I  don't  know.  My  head  aches  terribly,  and  I 
can  hardly  stand." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       207 

"Why  don't  you  report  yourself  sick  to  the  cap 
tain,  and  ask  leave  to  go  to  your  bunk?" 

"He  wouldn't  believe  it." 

"He  would  be  a  brute  if  he  didn't  grant  your  re 
quest." 

"Hush!    Here  he  comes !" 

Captain  Richmond  strode  on  deck,  and  looked 
about  him  in  his  masterful  way. 

He  noticed  James  Low's  slow  motions. 

"Be  lively  there!"  he  cried.  "You  lazy  loafer! 
You're  skulking!" 

"Captain  Richmond,"  said  the  poor  fellow,  "I 
feel  very  sick.  My  head  is  swimming." 

"Sick,  are  you?  Sick  of  work,  most  likely," 
sneered  the  captain. 

"Indeed,  sir,  I  am  very  ill.  If  you  would  kindly 
let  me  lie  down  for  an  hour  or  two " 

"Why,  you  lazy  scoundrel!"  roared  the  captain, 
in  a  rage,  "I  never  heard  such  bare-faced  inso 
lence!  Up  to  the  masthead  with  you,  and  stay 
there  till  you  are  ready  to  do  your  duty!" 

James  Low  turned  a  look  of  anguish  upon  the 
captain. 

"Indeed,  sir,  I  am  very  sick,"  he  said. 

As  the  poor  fellow  spoke,  his  face  became  of  a 
greenish  hue,  and  he  sank  to  the  deck,  where  he 
lay  without  sense  or  motion. 


208       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

By  this  time  Captain  Richmond  was  intensely 
irritated,  and  in  his  fury  he  drew  back  his  foot  and 
kicked  the  prostrate  boy  brutally. 

The  poor  fellow  quivered  a  little,  but  he  was  too 
far  gone  in  unconsciousness  to  make  any  other  dem 
onstration. 

"Shame !  Shame !"  was  heard  from  at  least  two 
persons  who  witnessed  the  captain's  cruelty. 

He  looked  sharply  around,  and  roared  out: 
"Who  said  that?" 

"I  did,  for  one,"  responded  Guy,  pale,  but  his 
eyes  flashing  with  indignation. 

"Don't  you  dare  to  say  it  again !"  cried  the  cap 
tain,  with  a  volley  of  oaths. 

"I  did,  for  another,"  said  Abner  Titcomb,  com 
ing  forward,  his  face  stern  and  threatening. 

"You  did,  eh?  You'll  find  yourself  in  irons  if 
you  are  not  careful.  I'm  not  going  to  have  any 
landlubber  interfering  with  my  discipline.  D'ye 
hear  that?" 

"Captain  Richmond,"  said  Titcomb,  "you  are 
the  greatest  brute  I  ever  came  across !" 

"Don't  you  dare  to  say  that  again !"  cried  the 
captain,  almost  foaming  at  the  mouth. 

"No  one  but  a  brute  would  kick  a  sick  boy!" 

"Sick?    He's  shamming!" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       209 

"He  is  not  shamming,  and  you  know  that  as  well 
as  I  do." 

"I'll  put  you  in  irons,  sir!  By  heavens,  you  are 
inciting  mutiny!" 

"If  you  put  me  in  irons,  you'll  have  something 
to  put  me  in  irons  for." 

"What  d'ye  mean  by  that?" 

"I  mean  that  if  you  are  captain  of  this  vessel, 
I  am  a  man,  and  I  won't  allow  you  to  treat  a  poor 
sick  sailor  as  you  have  treated  James  Low." 

"You  won't  allow  me!"  yelled  the  captain. 
"You'll  see!  I'll  do  it  again  for  your  gratifica 
tion  !"  And  he  drew  back  his  foot  as  if  to  kick  the 
prostrate  figure  once  more. 

Quick  and  stern  came  these  words  from  Abner 
Titcomb : 

"If  you  kick  that  boy  again,  Captain  Richmond, 
by  the  heavens  above  me  I'll  fell  you  to  the  deck 
and  kick  you !" 

There  was  something  so  resolute  in  Titcomb's 
words  and  manner  that  Captain  Richmond,  furious 
as  he  was,  was  impressed  in  spite  of  himself. 

"Mr.  Titcomb,"  he  said,  "I  can  have  you  ar 
rested  and  imprisoned  for  what  you  have  said." 

"If  you  don't  desist  at  once  I  will  report  your 
brutality  to  the  American  consul  at  the  first  port 
at  which  we  stop,  and  demand  your  trial !" 


210       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

As  has  already  been  said,  Captain  Richmond, 
though  a  bully,  was  a  coward,  and  he  did  not  dare 
to  follow  up  his  brutal  treatment,  much  as  he  de 
sired  to  do  so. 

"You  may  find  that  someone  else  will  report  to 
the  consul,"  he  said,  sullenly.  "You  will  find,  sir, 
that  it  is  a  serious  thing  to  interfere  with  discipline 
on  board  ship." 

James  Low  moved  slightly,  opened  his  eyes,  and 
seemed  coming  out  of  his  stupor. 

Captain  Richmond  bent  over,  seized  him  by  the 
shoulder,  and  raised  him  to  his  feet. 

"Now  go  below,"  he  said.  "You  will  be  kept 
on  bread  and  water  for  the  next  twenty-four 
hours." 

James  Low  was  glad  enough  to  creep  below,  and 
the  threat  did  not  disturb  him  in  the  least. 

Anything  was  better  than  going  about  his  work 
when  he  was  scarcely  able  to  stand  erect. 

Captain  Richmond,  with  as  much  dignity  as  he 
could  command,  went  to  his  own  cabin,  and  left 
the  field  to  Titcomb  and  Guy. 

"What  do  you  think  of  such  a  man  as  that?" 
said  Titcomb,  turning  to  Guy. 

"I  never  felt  so  indignant  in  my  life !  He  is  not 
a  man,  but  a  brute !  You  saved  the  poor  fellow, 
Mr.  Titcomb." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       211 

"Yes;  and  I  mean  to  shield  him  from  the  cap 
tain's  malice  hereafter,  for  he  will  undoubtedly  try 
to  do  him  a  mischief." 

"What  would  you  have  done  had  the  captain 
kicked  him  again?" 

"What  would  I  have  done?  Don't  ask  me.  I 
would  have  treated  Captain  Richmond  worse  than 
he  treated  James,  regardless  of  consequences." 


212       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

GUY  AND  THE  CAPTAIN 

A  STRONG,  resolute  man  makes  himself  respect 
ed.  Abner  Titcomb  had  asserted  his  manhood  and 
faced  the  captain  fearlessly. 

Autocrat  as  he  aspired  to  be,  Captain  Richmond 
did  not  dare  to  go  to  the  lengths  he  intended. 

He  made  a  show  of  maintaining  his  authority 
by  ordering  James  Low  below,  and  restricting  him 
to  bread  and  water.  This  was  not,  on  the  whole, 
a  hardship,  as  it  gave  the  poor  fellow  what  he 
needed — complete  rest. 

Feverish  as  he  was,  also,  the  scanty  diet  was  not, 
on  the  whole,  undesirable.  At  the  end  of  twenty- 
four  hours  he  felt  better,  and  returned  to  his  work. 

The  captain  did  not  molest  him  further,  though 
he  was  seen  at  times  to  look  at  him  with  a  con 
tracted  brow,  as  if  he  hated  him.  For  the  present, 
at  least,  however,  he  desisted  from  any  further 
persecution,  and  as  Low  did  his  duty  faithfully  he 
gave  his  captain  no  excuse  for  ill  treatment. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       213 

The  weather  was,  on  the  whole,  favorable,  and 
in  due  time  they  reached  the  Indian  Ocean. 

As  they  drew  nearer  the  group  of  islands,  one 
of  which,  as  Guy  believed,  contained  the  mysteri 
ous  treasure  of  which  he  was  in  search,  Guy  be 
came  restless  and  excited.  He  held  conferences 
with  his  two  assistants,  and  managed  to  excite  their 
interest,  though  he  found  that  they  were  not  so 
sanguine  as  himself. 

"I  have  heard  such  stories  before,"  said  Abner 
Titcomb,  "and  though  it  may  all  be  true,  you  must 
not  be  too  much  disappointed  if  you  don't  find  what 
you  expect." 

"I  shall  certainly  be  disappointed,  Mr.  Titcomb. 
My  uncle's  letter  was  so  direct  and  circumstantial 
that  it  carried  conviction  of  its  truth  to  my  mind." 

"No  doubt  he  believed  it  himself,  but  the  sailor 
from  whom  he  got  his  information  may  have  been 
spinning  a  yarn." 

"You  must  remember,  Mr.  Titcomb,  that  he 
was  on  his  deathbed.  That  is  hardly  a  time  to 
spin  yarns." 

"True;  and  I  hope  his  story  was  correct." 

"It  was  certainly  natural.  Granted  that  there 
are  pirates,  they  would  be  likely  to  have  a  place 
of  concealment  for  their  booty." 

"I  don't  say  anything  against  that,  Guy." 


214       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

The  two  men,  though  in  Guy's  employ,  were  in 
the  habit  of  calling  him  by  his  first  name. 

"At  any  rate,  Luke  and  I  are  ready  to  co-operate 
with  you  and  help  you  in  every  way  to  secure  this 
treasure." 

"I  don't  doubt  that,  Mr.  Titcomb.  I  feel  sure 
of  your  fidelity." 

The  time  came  when  it  would  be  necessary  to 
deviate  from  the  usual  course  and  make  for  the 
islands. 

Not  a  word  had  been  exchanged  between  Guy 
and  the  captain  on  this  subject  since  the  first  day 
of  the  voyage,  and  he  thought  it  well  to  bring  the 
matter  once  more  to  the  attention  of  the  Osprey's 
commander. 

"Captain  Richmond,"  he  said,  one  day,  as  that 
officer  was  about  to  leave  the  deck,  "I  should  be 
glad  to  have  a  few  words  with  you." 

The  captain  regarded  Guy  with  an  unpleasant 
frown,  and  said,  sneeringly:  "Perhaps  you  have 
some  advice  to  give  me  as  to  the  management  of 
the  vessel." 

"You  are  mistaken,  sir,"  said  Guy,  with  dignity. 
"I  wish  to  speak  to  you  about  the  business  which 
has  brought  me  on  board." 

"Very  well.  I  will  listen  to  what  you  have  to 
say." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       215 

They  were  now  in  the  cabin.  Guy  took  a  seat 
opposite  the  captain,  and  began : 

"I  believe  you  know,  in  a  general  way,  the  object 
of  my  expedition." 

"I  know  very  little  about  it,"  said  the  captain, 
indifferently. 

"It  is  desirable  that  you  should  know  definitely. 
You  understand  that  I  wish  to  visit  one  of  the  Aga- 
legas  Islands?" 

"Which  one?" 

"I  can't  tell  yet." 

"Then  it  looks  as  if  we  were  bound  on  a  fool's 
errand." 

"No.  I  have  a  description  of  the  particular 
island  I  want  to  visit,  explicit  enough  for  me  to 
identify  it  when  I  see  it." 

"What  do  you  know  about  these  islands?  Are 
they  inhabited?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"What  do  you  know  about  them?"  asked  the 
captain,  rudely. 

"Very  little.  It  is  not  necessary  that  I  should 
know  much.  The  main  point  is  this :  I  have  rea 
son  to  believe  that  on  the  island  I  seek  there  is 
concealed  somewhere  a  large  treasure,  stored  there 
years  since  by  a  band  of  pirates." 

Captain  Richmond  laughed  incredulously. 


216       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"That  is  an  old  woman's  tale,"  he  said.  "And 
it  is  to  find  this  treasure  that  you  want  me  to  turn 
aside  from  my  course  and  waste  perhaps  a  couple 
of  months?" 

Guy  was  provoked  at  the  other's  words  and 
manner. 

"I  don't  think,  Captain  Richmond,"  he  said, 
"there  is  any  reason  to  complain  of  this.  You,  or 
rather  your  owners,  will  be  well  compensated  for 
any  prolongation  of  the  voyage." 

"I  suppose  we  are  to  be  paid  out  of  this  fabulous 
treasure,"  sneered  the  captain. 

"No,  sir.  My  principal,  Mr.  Saunders,  of  Bom 
bay,  is  abundantly  able  to  pay  what  he  has  con 
tracted  to  do,  even  if  the  treasure  proves  fabulous, 
as  you  suggest." 

"So  you  talked  him  into  a  belief  in  its  exist 
ence?" 

"As  to  that,  he  thinks  there  is  sufficient  chance 
of  its  existence  to  warrant  the  outlay  he  has  made." 

"Then  I  don't  think  much  of  his  good  judg 


ment." 


"It  does  not  seem  to  me,  Captain  Richmond, 
that  this  concerns  anyone  except  himself.  It  is 
merely  a  business  venture." 

"How  long  do  you  expect  me  to  cruise  round 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       217 

among  these  islands?"  asked  the  captain,  evidently 
in  bad  humor. 

"I  can't  say  yet.  Of  course,  I  shall  want  to 
make  a  thorough  search.'* 

"And  in  the  meantime  the  Osprey  is  to  lie  at 
anchor,  and  all  on  board  are  to  fold  their  hands?" 

"As  to  that  I  have  no  control.  It  may  be  inter 
esting  to  you  to  explore  the  islands.  At  any  rate, 
you  will  be  paid  for  your  time." 

"I  shouldn't  like  this  thing  to  get  out.  I  should 
become  a  laughing-stock." 

"I  don't  see  why.  You  will  simply  be  carrying 
out  the  instructions  of  your  owners." 

"What  more  have  you  to  say  to  me,  Mr.  Fen- 
wick?" 

As  the  captain  pronounced  Guy's  name  his  in 
flection  was  sarcastic,  but  Guy  did  not  expect  cour 
tesy  from  this  quarter  and  he  chose  to  take  no  no 
tice  of  the  slur. 

"Were  you  ever  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Aga- 
legas  Islands,  Captain  Richmond?" 

"No;  and  I  presume  very  few  skippers  have  had 
occasion  to  go  anywhere  near  them,  except,  of 
course,  your  friends  the  pirates." 

"I  suppose  it  will  soon  be  necessary  to  change 
your  course,  so  as  to  steer  for  them?" 

"I  think  you  can  safely  leave  that  to  me,  Mr. 


218       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Fenwick.  Did  you  seek  this  interview  in  order  to 
give  me  advice?" 

"No,  captain;  only  to  have  an  understanding. 
Though  you  don't  seem  to  have  a  favorable  opinion 
of  my  chances  of  success,  I  am  sure  you  will  help 
me  so  far  as  lies  in  your  power." 

"Humph !"  returned  the  captain.  "I  don't  know 
that  I  am  called  on  to  do  anything  except  to  sail 
among  the  islands,  and  give  you  a  chance  to  pick 
out  the  one  you  are  in  search  of." 

"If  you  will  allow  me,  I  will  read  you  a  short 
description  of  the  island." 

"Go  on." 

"It  is  well  wooded  to  within  a  mile  of  the  shore; 
toward  the  center  there  is  a  hill,  or  slight  eminence, 
perhaps  a  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  altitude.  The 
extent  of  it  is  probably  five  miles  by  eight." 

"The  island  seems  to  be  quite  large.  Do  you 
expect  to  dig  it  all  over  before  giving  up  your 
search?" 

"That  will  not  be  necessary.  I  have  some  direc 
tions  as  to  the  place  where  the  treasure  is  hid 
den." 

"This  seems  very  much  like  a  fairy  tale,  Mr. 
Fenwick.  Would  you  like  my  opinion  of  this  man 
who  has  sent  you  on  such  a  wildgoose  chase?" 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       219 

"You  can  express  it  to  me,  if  you  like,  Captain 
Richmond,"  said  Guy,  with  dignity. 

"Then  I  think  he's  a  blooming  idiot,  neither 
more  nor  less." 

This  was  said  in  a  very  offensive  tone. 

"I  don't  think,  Captain  Richmond,  that  you  will 
find  many  persons  in  Bombay  who  will  agree  with 
you  in  your  estimate  of  Mr.  Saunders'  character. 
Blooming  idiots  don't,  as  a  general  thing,  succeed 
in  business  as  he  has  done." 

Captain  Richmond  listened  to  these  words  with 
an  ironical  smile,  and  Guy  left  his  presence  satis 
fied  that  he  could  expect  no  help  from  him  beyond 
what  he  felt  obliged  to  give. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

THE  ISLAND  AT  LAST 

GUY  was  not  without  fears  that  Captain  Rich 
mond  would,  on  some  pretext,  decline  to  carry  out 
his  contract,  and  refuse  to  visit  the  Agalegas 
Islands. 

A  captain  at  sea  is  such  an  autocrat  that  he  often 
takes  indefensible  liberties,  and  transcends  his 
rightful  authority.  He  can  make  things  exceeding 
ly  uncomfortable  for  anyone  for  whom  he  feels  a 
dislike  or  cherishes  a  grudge. 

It  soon  became  evident,  however,  that  whatever 
opinion  he  might  have  of  Guy's  enterprise,  he 
didn't  intend  to  interpose  any  obstacle  to  his  visit 
to  the  islands. 

Abner  Titcomb,  though  for  the  last  ten  years  a 
blacksmith,  was  from  the  age  of  twenty  to  thirty 
years  a  seaman,  and  had  risen  to  be  a  first  mate. 
He  could,  in  an  emergency,  have  taken  the  place  of 
captain  and  commanded  a  vessel. 

He  assured  Guy,  from  his  own  observations,  that 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       221 

Captain  Richmond  had  changed  his  course,  and 
was  steering  in  the  direction  of  the  islands. 

"That  relieves  me  very  much,"  said  Guy.  "I 
didn't  know  what  the  captain's  obstinacy  might 
have  led  him  to  do." 

"He  may  still  be  able  to  thwart  you,  even  after 
reaching  the  island,"  returned  Titcomb. 

"I  won't  borrow  trouble  in  advance,"  said  Guy. 
"The  first  step  is  to  reach  the  island.  After  that 
I  will  manage  to  carry  out  the  rest  of  the  program. 

The  crew  consisted  of  Irish  and  Americans,  with 
one  exception.  This  was  Guido  Leporelli,  a  swar 
thy  Italian,  who  was,  upon  the  whole,  a  good  sailor. 

He  was  short,  and  of  light  weight,  but  strong 
and  muscular.  He  held  little  intercourse  with  the 
rest  of  the  crew,  partly  perhaps  because  he  was  not 
a  good  English  scholar,  and  could  not  speak  the 
language  fluently,  though  he  understood  sea  terms. 

Guido  was,  as  a  rule,  quiet  and  well  behaved, 
and  had  not  incurred  any  rebukes  from  the  officers. 
One  morning,  however,  as  Guy  made  his  appear 
ance  on  deck,  he  beheld  the  captain,  in  a  furious 
rage,  confronting  the  Italian,  who  in  stature  was 
greatly  his  inferior. 

What  the  trouble  was  about,  Guy  did  not  learn, 
but  it  ended  in  the  captain  felling  the  Italian  to  the 
deck  by  a  powerful  blow. 


222       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Guido  rose  slowly.  His  swarthy  face  was  pale, 
and  his  eyes  gleamed  with  a  fierce  and  baleful  light; 
but  he  said  nothing. 

"Now  go  to  your  work,  you  dog !"  cried  the  cap 
tain. 

Only  Guy  noticed  the  terrible  rage  visible  in  the 
Italian's  face. 

He  spoke  of  it  to  Abner  Titcomb. 

"Captain  Richmond  has  made  a  dangerous  en 
emy,"  he  said. 

"Who  is  it  ?" 

"The  Italian  sailor." 

Then  Guy  related  what  he  had  seen. 

"What can  he  have  done?" 

Inquiry  showed  that  there  had  been  no  cause 
for  the  captain's  violent  outbreak.  He  was  in  one 
of  his  fits  of  periodical  irritation,  and  Guido,  un 
fortunately  for  him,  chanced  to  be  in  his  way,  and 
received  the  benefit  of  tf. 

"I  shouldn't  like  to  have  an  Italian  for  an  en 
emy"  said  Titcomb,  thoughtfully.  "But  it  is  Cap 
tain  Richmond's  lookout.  He  may  some  day  re 
pent  his  violence." 

There  were  others  who  shared  Mr.  Titcomb's 
views,  but  gradually  the  affair  faded  out  of  remem 
brance. 

Guido  Leporelli  seemed  himself  to  have  forgofc 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       223 

ten  his  ill  treatment.  He  went  about  his  duties  in 
the  same  quiet  way  he  had  always  done. 

As  for  Captain  Richmond,  he  never  troubled 
himself  to  think  of  the  Italian.  If  anyone  had  sug 
gested  that  he  stood  in  danger  he  would  have 
laughed  at  the  idea. 

He  was  a  tall,  strong  man,  weighing  not  far 
from  two  hundred  pounds,  while  Leporelli  would 
scarcely  have  tipped  the  scales  at  one  hundred  and 
twenty. 

The  weather  was  delightful;  the  temperature 
was  warm  and  balmy,  with  no  signs  of  a  storm,  and 
day  after  day  the  Osprey  glided  along  under  smil 
ing  skies. 

"How  are  you  enjoying  the  voyage,  Guy?" 
asked  Abner  Titcomb. 

"So  much  that  I  should  like  to  see  it  prolonged 
but  for  one  thing." 

"What  is  that?" 

"I  am  anxious  to  reach  the  island  so  as  to  settle 
the  question  about  the  treasure." 

"You  are  anxious  to  become  rich,  then,  Guy?" 

"It  isn't  so  much  that,  but  Mr.  Saunders,  at  my 
suggestion,  has  invested  a  good  deal  of  money  in 
this  expedition.  I  don't  want  him  to  be  a  loser." 

"He  would  not  blame  you." 

"Perhaps  not;  but  I  should  blame  myself.     Be- 


224       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

sides,  you  know  how  the  captain  has  derided  the 
scheme?" 

"Yes." 

"I  want  to  prove  to  him  that  he  is  in  the  wrong. 
He  calls  Mr.  Saunders  'a  blooming  idiot,'  and  I 
have  no  doubt  he  applies  that  name  to  me,  also." 

"Well,  Guy,  I  hope  you  will  succeed.  I  am 
not  over  and  above  sanguine  myself,  as  you  know. 
I  have  heard  and  read  of  too  many  enterprises  like 
yours,  and  that  makes  me  incredulous." 

"Still,  you  won't  call  me  'a  blooming  idiot'  even 
if  I  do  fail,"  said  Guy,  smiling. 

"No,  Guy,  I  think  you  are  very  far  from  an 
idiot.  I  should  be  more  likely  to  apply  that  name 
to  the  captain." 

"Why?" 

"On  account  of  his  treatment  of  the  Italian 
sailor." 

"Leporelli  doesn't  seem  to  bear  any  grudge,  so 
far  as  we  can  judge  from  his  conduct." 

"Don't  judge  too  hastily.  An  Italian  and  an 
Indian  have  long  memories  for  injuries." 

Since  the  conversation  already  reported  between 
Guy  and  the  captain,  nothing  further  had  been 
said.  Guy  would  have  been  glad  to  speak,  but  he 
saw  that  Captain  Richmond  was  quite  incredulous, 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       225 

and  it  would  be  like  having  cold  water  dashed  in 
his  face  to  talk  it  over  with  him  again. 

Had  Captain  Grover  been  in  command,  Guy 
would  have  had  daily  conferences  with  him,  but 
the  two  men  were  altogether  different. 

Though  he  did  not  know  the  ship's  reckoning, 
Guy  was  of  opinion  that  they  must  be  very  near 
the  Agalegas  Islands.  He  longed  to  ask  the  cap 
tain,  but  did  not  venture  to  do  so. 

It  was  Captain  Richmond  himself  who  broached 
the  subject. 

He  was  pacing  the  deck  one  afternoon  when  he 
met  Guy. 

"Come  here,  Fenwick,"  he  said.  "I  want  to 
speak  to  you." 

Guy  joined  him  in  his  walk.  His  heart  beat 
quickly,  for  he  felt  that  the  captain  was  about  to 
speak  to  him  on  the  subject  nearest  to  his  heart. 

"We  are  close  to  the  Agalegas  Islands,"  said  the 
captain,  abruptly.  "To-morrow  we  shall  probably 
sight  some  of  them." 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  captain,"  responded  Guy, 
joyfully. 

"I  don't  know  how  many  of  them  there  are,  but 
I  judge  there  may  be  a  considerable  number.  Do 
you  expect  me  to  visit  them  all?" 

"No,  Captain  Richmond.     If  you  remember,  I 


226       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

read  you  a  description  of  the  one  in  which  I  feel 
an  interest.  That  description  is  so  minute  that  I 
don't  think  we  are  likely  to  mistake  it." 

"You  don't  know  the  relative  postion  of  the 
island,  whether  it  is  the  nearest  to  us,  or  the  furth 
ermost?" 

uNo,  sir." 

"Humph !    That  is  not  very  encouraging." 

"If  you  will  excuse  my  suggesting  it,  I  think  it 
is  likely  to  be  the  nearest." 

"And  why?" 

"The  pirates  would  probably  consider  one  island 
as  good  for  their  purpose  as  another,  and  would 
select  the  first  that  presented  itself." 

"That's  all  conjecture." 

"That  is  all  I  claim  for  it." 

"At  any  rate,  I  hope  your  conjecture  is  a  correct 
one.  I  haven't  much  faith  in  your  enterprise,  and 
I  am  anxious  to  be  detained  as  short  a  time  as  pos 
sible." 

Captain  Richmond  left  Guy  and  went  to  his 
cabin.  Guy  understood  that  he  did  not  care  to 
speak  further  on  the  subject. 

Early  the  next  morning,  as  Guy  lay  in  his  bunk, 
there  was  a  loud  knock  at  the  door  of  his  state 
room. 

"What's  the  matter?"  he  called  out,  drowsily, 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       227 

"Matter  enough !"  cried  Abner  Titcomb,  for  it 
was  he.  uWe  are  in  sight  of  land!" 

Guy  sprang  from  his  berth  and  ran  up  on  deck. 

There,  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  lay  a  beau 
tiful  island,  a  delightful  sight  after  the  thousands 
of  miles  of  ocean  they  had  traversed. 

But,  best  of  all,  Guy  noted  with  wildly  beating 
heart  that  it  was  well  wooded  to  within  a  mile  of 
the  shore;  and  toward  the  center  there  was  a  hill, 
or  slight  eminence,  perhaps  a  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  in  altitude! 

It  was  evidently  the  island  of  which  he  was  in 
search. 


228       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

ON  THE  ISLAND 

WHEN  Guy  scanned  the  island,  and  saw  that  it 
answered  the  description  given  in  the  papers  be 
queathed  him  by  his  uncle,  his  heart  beat  gladly. 
His  pride  was  interested  in  the  reliability  of  the 
information  given  him. 

It  was  on  the  faith  of  these  that  Mr.  Saunders, 
his  employer,  had  risked  a  considerable  sum  of 
money,  and  now  it  looked  as  if  he  would  be  richly 
repaid  for  his  investment. 

As  Guy  stood  on  deck  regarding  the  island,  Cap 
tain  Richmond  walked  up  to  his  side. 

"Well,  captain,"  said  Guy,  "we  have  been  suc 
cessful.  This  is  the  island  I  wanted  to  find." 

"Yes,  it  is  the  island;  but  what  good  will  it  do 
you?" 

Guy  had  not  made  a  confidant  of  the  captain 
except  in  a  general  way.  He  distrusted  the  man, 
and  feared  that  in  some  manner  he  would  interfere 
with  his  plans. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       229 

"I  can  tell  you  better  after  a  few  days,"  an 
swered  Guy,  guardedly. 

UI  suppose  you  expect  to  find  an  immense  treas 
ure?"  said  Captain  Richmond,  with  a  sneer. 

"Perhaps  so." 

"Then  all  I  can  say  is  that  you  are  probably 
doomed  to  disappointment." 

"Why  do  you  say  that?" 

"All  these  stories  of  hidden  treasures  are  old 
women's  tales." 

"If  I  am  disappointed,"  said  Guy,  somewhat  net 
tled,  "you  will  not  be  a  loser." 

"I  wasn't  thinking  of  that;  but  I  hate  to  see  a 
man  make  a  fool  of  himself." 

"Am  I  the  man?"  asked  Guy,  smiling. 

"No,  but  the  man  who  has  supplied  you  with 
money  to  make  this  expedition." 

"When  you  see  Mr.  Saunders  you  can  tell  him 


so." 


"Now,  how  long  do  you  propose  to  delay  my 
voyage  in  keeping  me  in  this  out-of-the-way  place?" 

"As  short  a  time  as  possible,  Captain  Richmond. 
I  should  like  to  go  on  shore  at  once,  if  convenient, 
and  commence  my  search.  Mr.  Titcomb  and  Mr. 
Clark  will  go  with  me." 

"Very  well.    I  will  send  you  ashore,  as  you  de- 


230       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

sire.  I  have  this  to  say,  however,  that  I  shall  not 
be  willing  to  remain  here  more  than  three  days." 

"I  protest  against  this  limit,  Captain  Rich 
mond,"  said  Guy,  indignantly.  "The  contract  which 
I  made  with  your  owners  says  nothing  of  any  such 
limitations.  I  am  paying  a  handsome  sum  for  any 
detention  which  my  business  here  may  occasion." 

"You  are  paying "  began  the  captain,  with 

a  sneer. 

"Yes,  as  the  agent  of  Mr.  Saunders,"  responded 
Guy,  firmly. 

The  captain  turned  upon  his  heel  and  left  Guy, 
but  he  gave  orders  that  the  long-boat  should  be 
lowered,  and  in  five  minutes  Guy  and  his  two  as 
sistants  were  on  their  way  to  the  island. 

The  Osprey  anchored  about  a  hundred  yards 
from  the  shore,  in  order  not  to  get  into  too  shal 
low  water.  The  boat  trip  was,  therefore,  a  brief 
one. 

It  was  a  beautiful  morning.  The  island  smiled 
in  the  bright  rays  of  a  tropical  sun,  and  the  luxuri 
ant  vegetation  that  covered  the  hills  and  plains 
made  it  look  very  attractive. 

"This  is  a  charming  spot,  Guy,"  said  Abner 
Titcomb.  "The  pirates  knew  what  they  were 
about  when  they  selected  it." 

"I  imagine  they  cared  very  little  for  its  appear- 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       231 

ance,"  said  Guy.  "It  seems  to  be  the  nearest  of 
the  islands,  and,  therefore,  the  most  accessible." 

"If  I  were  well  provided  with  comforts,  I 
shouldn't  object  to  spending  a  few  months  here," 
said  Luke  Clark. 

"Nor  I,  if  at  the  end  of  that  time  I  could  get 
off  and  sail  for  home." 

They  made  for  a  little,  sandy  beach  on  the  south 
shore,  and  one  of  the  sailors,  leaping  out  of  the 
boat,  hauled  it  upon  the  beach.  Guy  and  his  two 
assistants  sprang  out. 

"When  do  you  want  us  to  come  back?"  asked  the 
boatswain. 

Guy  took  out  his  watch. 

"We  shall  spend  the  day  on  the  island,"  he  said. 
"You  can  come  for  us  at  six  o'clock." 

"But  we  shall  get  hungry  before  that,"  objected 
Titcomb. 

"I  thought  of  that,  and  asked  the  steward  to  put 
up  some  lunch  for  us,"  answered  Guy,  pointing  to 
a  square  package  wrapped  in  stout  paper. 

"We  shall  want  drink,  also." 

"It  will  be  strange  if  we  can't  find  a  spring  on 
the  island." 

Guy  and  his  two  friends  stood  on  the  shore  and 
watched  the  boat  as  it  was  rowed  back  to  the  ship. 

"I  can  understand  the  feelings  of  Robinson  Cm- 


232       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

soe,"  Guy  said.  uHere  we  are  many  thousand  miles 
from  home,  on  an  island  which  has  not  even  a 
name,  so  far  as  I  know." 

"True;  but  there's  our  ship,  ready  to  carry  us 
away  when  we  choose.  That  makes  the  difference 
between  us  and  Crusoe." 

"I  should  prefer  that  there  should  be  a  differ 
ence.  I  don't  care  to  feel  myself  a  prisoner  here." 

"What  are  your  plans  for  the  day,  Guy?  You 
are  the  leader  of  our  expedition.  Shall  we  begin 
our  search  for  the  treasure  immediately?" 

"To-day  let  us  simply  be  explorers.  I  should 
like  to  see  something  of  the  island.  Suppose  we 
strike  for  the  woods." 

"Just  as  you  say.  We  shall  have  a  delightful 
walk." 

The  woods  began  about  a  mile  from  the  beach, 
but  there  were  scattered  trees  on  the  way. 

On  their  branches  were  birds  of  strange  plum 
age.  They  were  singing,  but  the  songs  were  unlike 
any  that  the  three  explorers  had  heard  in  America. 

There  were  flowers,  also,  for  on  this  far-away 
island  it  was  the  season  of  blooming,  and  their  fra 
grance  perfumed  the  air. 

"I  wonder  if  there  are  any  inhabitants?"  said 
Luke  Clark. 

"Probably  there  are  no  white  inhabitants,  and 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       233 

I  hope  there  are  none  of  a  different  race.  They 
might  prove  dangerous,  and  interfere  with  our 
plans." 

"It  almost  seems  a  waste  of  productive  power 
that  such  a  delightful  island  should  be  uninhab 
ited,"  said  Abner  Titcomb.  "Suppose  it  were 
within  a  few  miles  of  Boston  or  New  York,  or  near 
Portland,  how  it  would  attract  visitors." 

"Like  Peak's  Island,"  suggested  Luke  Clark. 

"Where  is  that?"  asked  Guy. 

"Three  miles  from  Portland.  It  is  much  smaller 
than  this,  but  it  attracts  many  visitors  in  the  sum 


mer." 


"Unfortunately,  we  can't  move  this  island.  In 
deed,  I  shouldn't  want  to  till  I  have  found  the 
treasure." 

They  reached  the  edge  of  the  woods  and  plunged 
in.  There  was  very  little  underbrush,  but  the  trees 
rose  straight  and  erect,  branching  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  the  ground. 

"What  a  fine  grove  for  a  camp  meeting,"  said 
Luke  Clark.  "Do  you  know  how  far  the  trees 
reach  back,  Guy?" 

"Three  or  four  miles,  according  to  my  descrip 
tion." 

"Shall  we  push  through?" 

"Yes.     Back  of  the  woods  rises  the  small  hill 


234       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

indicated  on  my  plan  of  the  island.  I  propose 
that  we  ascend  that,  and  take  a  general  view.  It 
may  be  high  enough  for  us  to  see  the  shore  on  the 
other  side." 

It  was  not  a  work  of  difficulty  to  reach  the  hill 
and  ascend  it. 

The  rise  was  gradual,  and  the  hill  was  compara 
tively  bare  of  trees.  Thus  far  they  had  discovered 
nothing  that  indicated  any  previous  occupation  by 
white  men ;  but  now  on  the  summit  of  the  hill  they 
saw  a  pole  looking  somewhat  like  a  telegraph  pole. 

"Do  you  see  that,  Guy?"  said  Abner  Titcomb, 

"Yes." 

"That  must  have  been  placed  there  by  white 
visitors." 

"Probably  by  some  of  the  pirates  of  whom  my 
uncle  speaks." 

"Yes;  and  so  far  it  is  a  confirmation  of  his 
story." 

"You  are  right.  It  should  be  looked  upon  as 
encouraging." 

There  was  something  else  that  suggested  former 
visits.  On  the  top  of  the  hill,  a  hundred  feet  from 
the  pole,  was  a  rude  seat  made  by  a  plank  resting 
upon  supports  at  either  end. 

"Let  us  sit  down,"  said  Guy,  "and  take  a  general 
survey  of  the  island." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       235 


CHAPTER  XXX 

LOOKING    FOR  TREASURE 

THOUGH  not  very  high,  the  hill  on  which  Guy 
and  his  friends  were  seated  was  of  sufficient  alti 
tude  to  command  a  general  view  of  the  entire 
island.  With  the  exception  of  this  hill,  the  surface 
of  the  island  was  flat,  and  it  was  possible  to  see 
its  general  contour. 

In  front,  at  a  comparatively  short  distance,  the 
Osprey  rode  at  anchor. 

"It  is  the  sight  of  the  ship  that  makes  me  feel 
comfortable,"  said  Abner  Titcomb,  pointing  to  it. 

Through  the  clear  atmosphere  they  could  see 
distinctly  all  that  passed  on  board  the  vessel. 

"See,"  said  Luke  Clark,  "the  captain  is  pacing 
the  deck  with  an  impatient  step.  Ten  to  one  he 
doesn't  enjoy  being  detained  here." 

"I  know  he  doesn't,"  said  Guy.  "He  loses  no 
opportunity  to  ridicule  my  search  after  the  treas 
ure,  and  thinks  Mr.  Saunders  an  idiot  for  the  ex 
pense  he  has  incurred  in  chartering  the  vessel." 

"I  don't  see  what  business  it  is  of  his,"  said 


236       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Titcomb.  "You,  or  rather  Mr.  Saunders,  are  pay 
ing  the  owners  well  for  the  time  consumed." 

"True;  but  he  is  impatient  to  go  on  to  Bombay. 
He  asked  me  if  I  couldn't  get  through  my  search 
in  three  days." 

"What  did  you  say?" 

"That  this  time  was  entirely  insufficient." 

"It  is  a  pity  that  Captain  Grover  is  not  in  com 
mand." 

"Yes.  It  would  be  a  great  deal  more  comfort 
able  for  me." 

From  time  to  time,  as  they  could  see,  the  captain 
looked  toward  the  island  and  then  resumed  his 
walk. 

"I  wonder  he  doesn't  propose  to  come  on  shore 
and  aid  you  in  the  search,  Guy." 

"I  don't  think  he  cares  to  have  me  succeed. 
For  some  reason  which  I  don't  understand  he  ap 
pears  to  have  taken  a  dislike  to  me." 

"It  is  partly  because  you  are  independent  of  him. 
He  has  authority  over  all  on  board  the  Osprey  ex 
cept  ourselves,  and  this  chafes  him." 

"I  shouldn't  like  to  be  in  the  power  of  such  a 


man." 


"Nor  I.  But  for  your  firmness,  Luke  and  my 
self  would  have  lost  our  cabin  privileges  and  been 
obliged  to  eat  with  the  sailors." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       237 

"So  far  as  pleasant  society  is  concerned,  I  should 
be  as  willing  to  keep  company  with  them  as  with 
Captain  Richmond." 

"I  feel  the  same  way,  but  I  was  unwilling 
that  the  captain  should  impose  on  me." 

"Boys,"  said  Luke  Clark,  suddenly,  "I  think  we 
made  a  mistake  in  not  bringing  some  water  with  us. 
I  am  beginning  to  feel  thirsty." 

"I  shall  feel  so  soon,"  said  Titcomb.  "We  may 
as  well  hunt  for  a  spring.  Thirst  is,  if  anything, 
harder  to  bear  than  hunger." 

"Very  well,"  said  Guy.    "Let  us  make  a  search." 

They  descended  the  opposite  slope  of  the  hill, 
and  in  a  covert  near  the  bottom  found  a  clear,  pel 
lucid  spring,  from  which  they  dipped  water  in 
the  hollow  of  their  hands  and  drank. 

There  was  a  slight  mineral  flavor  which  was  not 
unpleasant,  and  all  three  enjoyed  the  cooling 
draughts. 

"This  is  a  very  important  discovery,"  said  Tit- 
comb,  "and  would  be  even  more  so  if  we  were 
obliged  to  remain  any  length  of  time  on  the  island. 
Now,  Guy,  what  shall  we  do  next?" 

"Continue  our  exploration,"  said  Guy.  "This  is 
only  the  first  day,  remember." 

"But  the  captain  wants  to  limit  you  to  three 
days." 


238       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Yes;  but  I  have  not  accepted  the  limitation. 
After  traveling  so  many  thousand  miles,  I  don't 
propose  to  be  hurried." 

"I  applaud  your  pluck,  Guy.  You  have  an  un 
usually  strong  will  for  a  boy  of  sixteen.  From 
whom  do  you  take  it?" 

"Not  from  my  father,"  answered  Guy.  "He  is 
altogether  too  gentle  and  yielding,  and  allows  him 
self  to  be  bossed  by  one  of  his  deacons.  Fortunate 
ly,  I  thwarted  Deacon  Crane  in  one  of  his  schemes 
when  I  was  at  home." 

"Your  father  is  a  minister,  isn't  he?" 

"Yes." 

"That  accounts  for  it." 

"I  don't  know.  Some  ministers  are  quite  as 
fond  of  having  their  own  way  as  any  of  their  con 
gregation.  However,  that  isn't  the  case  with  my 
father." 

"I  suppose,  Guy,  you  have  some  clue  to  the  place 
where  the  treasure  is  concealed?"  said  Titcomb. 
"I  have  not  inquired,  hitherto,  but  it  seems  to  me 
that  while  we  are  exploring  we  may  as  well  keep 
our  eyes  open,  and  perhaps  we  may  chance  upon 
the  spot." 

"It  is  time  I  told  you  what  I  know,"  answered 
Guy.  "I  am  obliged  to  confess  that  the  directions 
are  not  as  clear  and  explicit  as  I  should  wish.  Yet 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       239 

I  think  they  may  be  sufficiently  so  for  our  pur 
pose." 

"Go  ahead,  Guy,"  said  Luke  Clark.  "I  confess 
that  my  curiosity  is  aroused." 

"Then  I  will  tell  you  all  I  know." 

Guy  took  from  his  pocket  a  roll  of  paper,  dis 
colored  by  time,  and  unfolding  it,  read  this  para 
graph: 

"There  is  a  place  on  the  island  where  six  trees 
are  arranged  (by  nature)  in  the  shape  of  a  cross, 
as  this  drawing  will  show. 


"Between  the  second  and  third  of  these  trees, 
counting  from  the  top  downward,  the  pirate's  treas 
ure  is  concealed.  A  large  cavity  was  dug  out,  and 
in  this  was  placed  a  sailor's  chest,  in  which  are 
stored  gold,  silver,  and  jewels,  besides  a  consider 
able  amount  in  bank  notes — some  English,  some 


240       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

French,  and  some  American.  As  to  the  value  of 
these  treasures,  no  one  knew  anything  except  the 
captain,  and  possibly  even  he  was  uninformed." 

"There  is  more,"  added  Guy,  "but  this  is  all  that 
is  of  importance." 

Abner  Titcomb  and  Luke  Clark  listened 
thoughtfully. 

"That  seems  a  pretty  good  clue,"  said  Abner,  at 
length.  "It  is  hardly  likely  that  there  will  be 
more  than  one  group  of  trees  arranged  in  the  shape 
of  a  cross." 

"You  are,  no  doubt,  right." 

"I  move  that  we  use  our  eyes  as  we  go  along. 
We  may  come  upon  this  cross  this  very  day." 

"I  wish  we  might." 

"If  we  do,  we  may  conclude  that  we  have  suc 
ceeded  in  our  quest,  even  if  we  do  not  dig  at  once 
for  the  treasure." 

"Yes." 

"I  shall  feel  more  interest  in  our  walk  now,  as 
we  shall  have  an  object  in  view." 

"It  seems  to  me,"  said  Guy,  "that  the  pirates 
might  easily  have  selected  a  place  more  difficult  to 
find." 

"I  don't  know  about  that.  Of  course,  now  that 
Wf  have  the  clue,  it  seems  simple,  but  otherwise 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       241 

how  could  we  be  led  to  suppose  that  the  treasure 
would  be  hidden  there  rather  than  in  any  other 
place?  All  puzzles  are  easy  when  you  have  found 
out  the  key  to  them." 

After  this  the  party  naturally  confined  their  ex 
plorations  to  the  wooded  part  of  the  island.  Some 
where  among  this  multitude  of  trees  were  to  be 
found  the  six  trees  arranged  in  the  shape  of  a 
cross. 

"It  seems  as  if  it  ought  to  be  easy  to  find,"  said 
Guy. 

"Yes;  but  you  must  remember  that  the  woods, 
besides  running  back  for  perhaps  three  or  four 
miles,  reach  nearly  across  the  island  in  breadth.  It 
may  be  a  long  and  tedious  search,  after  all." 

"But  I  don't  think  we  can  fail  to  succeed  at 
last." 

"Yet  it  may  be  a  matter  of  weeks  before  we  find 
the  cross." 

"At  any  rate  we  have  the  clue.  It  does  not  re 
quire  sharpness,  only  patience." 

When  midday  came  all  felt  hungry,  and  they 
sat  down  to  eat  the  provisions  they  had  brought 
with  them. 

As  they  had  discovered  water  nowhere  else,  they 
were  obliged  to  work  their  way  back  to  the  spring 
which  they  had  originally  chanced  upon. 


242       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"It  is  a  pity  that  we  didn't  bring  a  pail  with  us 
to  hold  water,  so  that  we  need  not  have  been 
obliged  to  retrace  our  footsteps." 

"We  shall  know  better  how  to  manage  to-mor 
row." 

The  three  explorers  wandered  about  till  they 
were  very  tired,  and  a  full  hour  before  the  time 
set  they  were  on  the  beach  waiting  for  the  boat  to 
carry  them  back  to  the  Osprey.  They  were  seen 
from  the  vessel,  and  in  a  few  minutes  they  were 
on  board  again. 

"Well,"  said  Captain  Richmond,  addressing 
Guy,  "what  have  you  accomplished?" 

"We  have  discovered  a  spring  and  explored  a 
part  of  the  island." 

"Have  you  found  the  treasure?" 

"Not  yet,"  answered  Guy. 

"So  I  supposed,"  returned  the  captain,  with  a 
sneer. 

He  said  nothing  more,  but  he  had  succeeded  in 
making  Guy  feel  uncomfortable. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       243 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

A  STARTLING  SUGGESTION 

THE  program  for  the  next  day  was  like  that  of 
the  first,  except  that  no  time  was  spent  on  a  general 
exploration  of  the  island. 

The  impatience  shown  by  Captain  Richmond 
made  Guy  fear  that  unless  the  treasure  were  speed 
ily  found  he  would  object  to  staying  longer.  Of 
course,  this  would  be  in  violation  of  the  agreement 
he  had  made  with  the  owners,  but  there  was  no 
court  to  enforce  that  agreement,  and  if  the  captain 
should,  in  his  obstinacy,  decide  to  sail  away,  the 
whole  object  of  the  expedition  would  be  lost,  or,  at 
any  rate,  indefinitely  deferred. 

Therefore,  on  reaching  the  island  in  the  morn 
ing,  Guy  and  his  two  friends  immediately  set  about 
searching  for  the  six  trees  arranged  in  the  shape 
of  a  cross.  It  did  not  seem  that  it  would  be  diffi 
cult  to  find  them,  but  nevertheless  three  more  days 
slipped  away,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  they  were 
no  nearer  success  than  before. 

Even  Guy  began  to  feel  anxious.  He  knew  that 
m  the  event  of  the  failure  of  the  expedition  Mr. 


2M       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Saunders  might  blame  him  for  the  loss  of  the  con 
siderable  sum  which  had  been  spent  in  fitting  it  out, 
and,  moreover,  he  would  feel  in  duty  bound  to 
return  the  five  thousand  dollars  which  the  merchant 
had  advanced  to  him. 

A  part  of  this  sum  had  been  spent,  some  of  it 
in  paying  the  mortgage  on  his  father's  house,  and 
he  would  be  left  hopelessly  in  debt. 

"Don't  feel  blue,  Guy,"  said  Abner  Titcomb. 
"It  took  us  months  to  come  here,  and  surely  we 
can  spare  a  month  for  the  search." 

"Yes,  Abner;  but  will  the  captain  wait  for  us 
that  long?" 

"There  is  the  rub?"  said  Titcomb.  "For  some 
reason  he  is  very  impatient,  and  very  averse  to  stay 
ing  here." 

"Probably  he  is  naturally  impatient,"  suggested 
Luke  Clark. 

"That  does  not  explain  it.  He  is  evidently  un 
friendly  to  Guy,  and  does  not  want  him  to  suc 
ceed." 

"And  for  that  reason  I  am  all  the  more  deter 
mined  to  succeed,"  said  Guy,  firmly. 

For  two  hours  after  this  they  searched  vigor 
ously  and  earnestly.  Not  a  clump  of  trees  but  was 
scanned  critically,  in  the  hope  that  it  might  be  the 
lucky  cross  of  which  they  were  in  quest. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       245 

The  time  most  dreaded  by  Guy  was  the  evening 
and  the  return  to  the  ship  unsuccessful  and  empty- 
handed. 

Captain  Richmond  was  always  on  hand,  and  al 
ways  put  the  question : 

"Well,  have  you  succeeded?" 

"Not  yet,"  answered  Guy,   reluctantly. 

"Of  course  not,"  retorted  the  captain,  contempt 
uously. 

"But  I  mean  to  do  so,"  said  Guy,  pluckily. 

"And  how  many  years  do  you  expect  me  to  ride 
at  anchor  here  waiting  for  you?" 

"We  have  been  here  but  five  days,  so  far,"  said 
Guy. 

"And  have  accomplished  nothing.  You  might 
ai  well  make  up  your  mind,  first  as  last,  that  there 
is  nothing  to  be  found  here.  I  don't  believe,  for 
my  part,  that  any  pirates  ever  visited  the  island." 

"Why,  then,  should  a  dying  man  tell  my  uncle 
so,  Captain  Richmond?" 

"It  was  a  sailor's  yarn.  There  are  some  men 
who  can't  help  lying,  even  upon  their  deathbed." 

"Don't  you  believe  any  pirates  ever  concealed 
their  booty?" 

"Nine  out  of  ten  of  the  stories  about  pirates  and 
hidden  treasure  are  fabrications." 

"Be  that  as  it  may,  Captain  Richmond,"  said 


246       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Guy,  with  dignity,  "you  will  lose  nothing  by  wait 
ing." 

"I  shall  lose  my  patience,  for  one  thing." 

"I  don't  think  you  have  much." 

"No  impertinence,  young  man!"  said  Captain 
Richmond,  angrily. 

"I  don't  mean  to  be  impertinent,  but  I  want  you 
to  carry  out  in  good  faith  the  terms  of  the  agree 
ment  I  made  with  your  owners." 

The  captain  walked  away  without  a  word,  but 
there  was  a  look  upon  his  face  which  Guy  did  not 
like.  He  knew  that  if  the  captain  chose  to  put  an 
end  to  his  stay  upon  the  island  he  would  have  no 
alternative  but  to  submit,  and  would  be  obliged  to 
keep  on  to  Bombay  in  the  humiliation  of  failure. 

Guy's  fears  were  increased  by  a  few  words  he 
had  with  Frank  Low,  the  young  sailor  already  re 
ferred  to  as  an  object  of  dislike  to  the  captain. 

It  was  one  evening,  when  the  captain  had  retired 
early. 

uGuy — Mr.  Fenwick,"  said  Frank,  "let  me 
speak  a  few  words  to  you." 

uBy  all  means,  Frank.  You  need  not  call  me 
Mr.  Fenwick.  I  am  only  a  boy  like  yourself — 
younger,  indeed." 

"But  you  are  a  passenger,  while  I  am  only  a 
poor  sailor." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       247 

"You  are  my  friend,  all  the  same.  Now  what 
have  you  to  tell  me?" 

"Captain  Richmond  is  in  a  great  funk  at  being 
obliged  to  stay  here  while  you  are  on  shore.'* 

"I  know  that  very  well,  Frank,  but  he  has  no 
right  to  be.  I  made  a  special  agreement  with  the 
owners  of  the  Osprey  for  which  they  will  be  hand 
somely  paid." 

Frank  shook  his  head. 

"That's  all  very  well,  Master  Guy,  but  the  cap 
tain  will  play  you  a  trick  if  he  can." 

"What  trick  can  he  play  me?" 

"He  can  forbid  your  going  on  shore  again." 

"He  wouldn't  do  that.  He  knows  that  in  that 
case,  the  contract  being  broken,  I  should  have  an 
excuse  for  refusing  to  pay  the  sum  agreed  upon/' 

"Is  it  after  hidden  gold  you  are  searching,  Mas 
ter  Guy?" 

"Yes;  after  treasure  concealed  on  this  island  by 
pirates." 

"Do  you  believe  it  is  there?" 

"Yes.    I  have  very  good  reason  to  believe  it." 

"Then  why  don't  you  get  the  captain  on  youif 
side  by  offering  him  something — say  a  thousand 
dollars — in  case  you  find  it." 

"It  wouldn't  do  much  good.  The  captain  doesn't 
believe  in  the  treasure." 


248       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Frank  Low  looked  uneasy. 

"I'll  tell  you  what  I  am  afraid  of,  Master  Guy," 
he  said. 

"Go  on,  Frank." 

"I  am  afraid  some  day  when  you  are  on  the 
island  he  will  set  sail  without  you." 

Guy  looked  startled,  as  he  well  might,  at  this 
suggestion. 

"He  wouldn't  dare  do  that,"  he  replied. 

"I  don't  know.  I  believe  he  would  dare  to  do 
anything.  Besides " 

"Well,  Frank,"  said  Guy,  seeing  that  he  hesi 
tated. 

"Besides,  I  don't  think  the  captain  is  wholly  re 
sponsible  for  what  he  does." 

"Why  do  you  think  that?"  asked  Guy.  quickly. 

"From  the  way  he  behaves.  Sometimes  he  paces 
up  and  down  the  deck,  muttering  to  himself.  I 
shouldn't  be  surprised  if  he  were  off  his  base." 

"You  mean  that  he  is  crazy?" 

"It  looks  to  me  like  that.  I  had  an  uncle  who 
was  affected  in  the  same  way.  He  used  to  go  up 
and  down  through  the  village,  muttering,  and  took 
very  little  notice  of  anyone  he  met  when  he  had  the 
fit  on  him.  After  a  while  he  got  worse,  and  at  last 
had  to  be  carried  to  an  asylum." 

"Then  you  think  that  with  the  fit  upon  him,  the 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       249 

captain  might  sail  away  and  leave  me  and  my  two 
friends  on  the  island?" 

"That  is  what  I  am  afraid  of." 

"Thank  you  for  putting  me  on  my  guard,  Frank. 
"I  will  think  over  what  you  have  said  and  try  to 
prepare  for  it." 

"I  don't  see  how  you  can." 

"I  must  still  continue  my  visits  to  the  island, 
whatever  risk  I  run;  that  is  due  to  my  employer. 
But,  should  the  worst  happen,  you  can  do  some 
thing  for  me." 

"I  will  do  anything  for  you,  Master  Guy,"  said 
the  young  sailor,  earnestly. 

"Then,  Frank,  if  the  captain  treacherously  de 
serts  us,  and  keeps  on  his  course  to  Bombay,  as 
soon  as  the  Osprey  arrives  there  I  want  you  to 
call  on  Mr.  Saunders,  my  employer,  and  let  him 
know  where  I  am.  He  will  probably  have  the  cap 
tain  arrested,  and  will  send  the  Osprey  or  some 
other  vessel  to  our  help." 

"But  you  will  be  left  to  starve!" 

"I  don't  fear  that.  There  are  natural  fruits  on 
the  island,  and  animals  that  we  can  kill  for  food. 
I  think  that  we  can  get  along  as  Robinson  Crusoe 
did." 

"I  will  remember  what  you  have  told  me,  Mas 
ter  Guy,  but  I  hope  there  will  be  no  need  to  do  it." 


250       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  trust,  too,  that  the  necessity  will  not  arise. " 

"Don't  you  think  you  had  better  give  up  your 
search,  Master  Guy,  considering  how  much  opposi 
tion  there  is  to  it?" 

"No,  Frank,"  said  Guy,  firmly.  "You  must  re 
member  that  I  am  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Saunders, 
and  represent  his  interests.  I  will  prove  faithful 
to  him,  whatever  happens." 

Frank  Low  looked  perplexed  and  uneasy.  He 
had  become  anxious,  and  being  warmly  attached  to 
Guy,  who  treated  him  as  a  friend  and  an  equal, 
thought  chiefly  of  his  safety. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       251 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

LUKE  CLARK  MAKES  A  DISCOVERY 

THE  fear  excited  by  Frank  Low's  communica 
tion  made  Guy  more  anxious  than  ever  to  complete 
his  work  upon  the  island  as  soon  as  possible.  Cap 
tain  Richmond's  evident  hostility  and  desire  to  get 
away  excited  daily  apprehension. 

Guy  had  no  desire  to  repeat  the  experience  of 
Robinson  Crusoe.  It  would  doubtless  be  romantic, 
but  he  preferred  to  read  romances  rather  than  en 
act  them. 

Guy's  feelings  were  shared  by  his  two  compan 


ions. 

u 


Whenever  I  come  to  the  island  I  pray  that  it 
may  be  for  the  last  time,"  said  Abner  Titcomb. 
"With  such  a  man  as  Captain  Richmond  in  com 
mand  of  the  Osprey  I  never  feel  safe." 

"I  feel  so,  too,"  added  Luke  Clark. 

A  new  alarm  seized  Guy.  Would  his  compan 
ions  refuse  to  persevere  in  the  quest? 

He  had  no  doubt  of  their  general  loyalty,  but 


252       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

both  had  families  in  far-away  Maine,  and  their 
affections  made  them  timid. 

Guy  himself  had  a  father  and  friends  in  Amer 
ica,  and  he,  too,  shrank  from  the  fate  which  would 
be  his  if  the  captain  should  take  a  fancy  to  sail 
away  and  leave  them  on  the  island. 

It  was  certainly  a  strange  and  momentous  re 
sponsibility  that  rested  upon  this  American  boy  of 
but  seventeen  years.  Here  were  two  men  of  mid 
dle  age  under  his  direction.  He  had  hired  them 
for  a  special  service,  but  he  could  not  command 
them  to  remain  faithful  in  the  face  of  the  danger 
which  they  all  dreaded. 

"Don't  you  think,  Mr.  Titcomb,"  said  Guy,  on 
the  second  morning  after  his  conversation  with 
Frank  Low,  "that  we  had  better  work  more  syste 
matically?" 

"What  do  you  mean,  Guy?" 

"I  will  tell  you.  Hitherto  we  have  kept  togeth 
er.  Would  it  not  be  well  to  separate  and  go  in 
different  directions,  meeting,  say,  at  four  o'clock? 
It  would  not  be  so  pleasant,  but  I  think  it  would 
multiply  our  chances  of  success." 

"I  am  ready  for  any  plan  that  will  have  that 
result.  Do  you  know,  I  dreamed  of  my  wife  and 
children  last  night?" 

"That  must  have  been  pleasant." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       253 

"No;  for  in  my  dream  one  of  the  children 
seemed  to  be  very  sick  with  a  fever.  I  could  not 
help  thinking  of  what  might  happen  during  our 
protracted  absence." 

Abner  Titcomb  spoke  gravely,  and  it  was  easy 
to  see  that  the  dream  had  made  a  deep  impression 
upon  him.  Not  only  upon  him,  but  upon  Luke 
Clark,  to  whom  the  same  thought  seemed  to  have 
come. 

"If  Captain  Grover  were  in  command  of  the 
Osprey,  we  wouldn't  feel  so  anxious  or  hurried," 
he  said. 

"No;  but  we  have  a  very  different  man  in  com 
mand." 

"True;  but  he  would  not  have  the  courage  to 
sail  away  and  leave  us  in  the  lurch." 

"Suppose,  however,  that  Frank  Low's  conjecture 
is  correct,  and  the  man  is  insane?" 

"Then,  of  course,  he  would  be  capable  of  any 
thing,"  said  Luke  Clark. 

"Don't  let  us  brood  over  a  danger  which  perhaps 
does  not  exist,"  interrupted  Guy.  "Rather  let  us 
consult  together  how  to  succeed." 

It  was  decided  to  adopt  Guy's  suggestion  and 
separate,  each  of  the  three  taking  a  different  route, 
and  meeting  again  at  four  o'clock.  It  was  felt  by 
all  that  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost. 


254       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

It  may  be  as  well  to  explain  here  that  each  of 
the  three  was  provided  with  a  watch,  so  that  there 
would  be  no  difficulty  about  meeting  at  any  hour 
agreed  upon. 

The  first  day  on  which  this  arrangement  was 
carried  out  proved  to  be  a  long  one  for  each  mem 
ber  of  the  party.  Previously  they  were  able  to 
converse  together,  and  this  made  the  time  slip  by 
more  rapidly. 

They  met  on  the  hill,  at  the  place  where  they 
had  found  the  seat  already  referred  to. 

Guy  and  Titcomb  were  the  first  to  arrive. 

"Well,  Abner,  what  success?"  asked  Guy. 

"None  at  all.  I  presume  you  have  no  better 
news  to  report." 

"No." 

"I  wonder  whether  your  clue — about  the  trees 
in  the  shape  of  a  cross — can  be  depended  upon?" 

"If  not,  I  shall  have  absolutely  nothing  to  guide 


me." 


"Then  let  us  trust  that  it  is  reliable.  Well,  I 
scanned  closely  every  clump  of  trees  in  my  wander 
ings,  and  saw  nothing  that  answered  the  descrip 


tion." 


"Let  us  hope  that  Luke  was  more  fortunate." 
Five  minutes  later  Luke  Clark  made  his  appear 
ance,  coming  from  the  west.     There  was  an  un- 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       255 

usual  expression  upon  his  face  that  made  Guy  hope 
ful. 

"Well,  Luke,"  he  said,  "have  you  discovered 
anything?" 

"Yes,"  answered  Clark. 

"What  is  it?"  asked  Guy,  eagerly.  "Not  the 
cross?" 

"No,  not  the  cross.    This  is  what  I  found." 

He  drew  from  his  pocket  a  small  volume,  look 
ing  like  an  account  book.  The  cover  bore  the 
marks  of  exposure.  It  had  evidently  been  out  in 
the  rain,  but  the  inside  pages  were  full  of  writing 
which  was  still  legible. 

"The  book  must  have  been  left  here  by  one  of 
the  pirates,"  said  Guy. 

"No;  not  by  one  of  the  pirates,  but  by  an  un 
fortunate  man  who  met  the  fate  that  we  have  all 
been  dreading." 

"What  do  you  mean,  Luke?" 

"I  mean  that  the  man  who  wrote  the  account 
which  you  will  find  in  this  book  was  left  here  pur 
posely  by  a  ship  captain  who  had  a  grudge  against 
him.  So  much  I  have  gathered  from  the  pages 
that  I  have  read." 

"Sit  down  and  read  it  to  us.  It  is  nearly  two 
hours  before  we  shall  have  to  be  on  the  beach  to 
meet  the  boat." 


256       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

The  handwriting  was  plain  and  legible,  though 
a  lead  pencil  had  been  employed.  It  looked  very 
much  like  a  schoolboy's  hand,  the  letters  being 
round  and  well  formed.  The  writer  had  evidently 
written  slowly  and  deliberately. 

The  reading  was  listened  to  with  deep  interest. 
The  story  ran  thus : 

"I  wonder  whether  anyone  will  ever  read  these 
lines  which  I  pen  in  my  despair.  I  hope  so,  though 
when  they  are  read  I  shall  be  beyond  human  help. 
Not  that  I  am  sick.  I  am  well  in  body,  but  so  un 
happy  that  I  have  made  up  my  mind  when  this 
record  is  completed  to  throw  myself  into  the  sea 
and  end  my  captivity  in  the  only  way  that  seems 
practicable. 

Four  years  I  have  lived  on  this  island  in  the 
completest  solitude.  Every  day  I  have  made  a 
notch  on  a  tree,  which  I  selected  for  the  purpose, 
as  it  was  the  only  way  of  keeping  tally  of  the  time. 
The  seasons  are  so  much  alike  that  the  changes  are 
not  sufficient  to  be  a  guide  to  me. 

I  have  just  been  counting  the  notches  I  have 
made,  and  I  find  them  to  number  fourteen  hundred 
and  sixty.  That  makes  exactly  four  years,  not 
making  account  of  the  extra  day  for  leap  year. 

But  I  must  not  make  my  preface  too  long.    Let 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       257 

me  say,  then,  that  in  the  year  187 —  I  set  sail  from 
Liverpool  for  Bombay,  rating  as  an  ordinary  sea 
man.  I  had  made  other  voyages,  for  I  have  been 
a  sailor,  man  and  boy,  for  twenty  years,  but  I  had 
no  presentiment  that  this  was  to  be  the  last  and 
most  disastrous. 

We  had  a  good  captain,  a  man  who  understood 
his  business,  strict,  and  yet  kind.  I  always  liked 
him,  and  got  on  well  with  him.  I  may  say  that 
I  never  sailed  under  a  captain  whom  I  more  highly 
respected.  His  name  was  Clark " 

"Your  name,  Luke,"  suggested  Guy.  "I  don't 
understand  how,  under  such  a  captain,  the  poor 
fellow  could  have  come  to  grief." 

"You  will  see  further  on." 

Luke  Clark  continued  reading: 

"The  mate,  however,  was  a  different  man,  arro 
gant,  rough,  and  domineering.  None  of  us  liked 
him.  He  would  have  misused  the  sailors  had  the 
captain  allowed,  but  Captain  Clark,  though  a  mild 
and  good-tempered  man,  was  one  who  did  not  per 
mit  his  authority  to  be  questioned  or  disputed. 
More  than  once,  when  the  mate  was  on  the  point 
of  abusing  one  of  us  sailors,  the  captain  interfered 
and  sternly  reprimanded  him. 


258       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Of  course,  under  these  circumstances,  the  mate 
could  not  do  the  harm  or  indulge  in  the  brutality 
to  which  his  nature  impelled  him.  This  was  fortu 
nate  for  me,  for  by  ill  luck  I  had  managed  to  incur 
his  special  ill  will.  Once  he  was  on  the  point  of 
striking  me  to  the  deck  when  Captain  Clark  inter 
fered. 

The  mate  never  forgot  this.  He  was  humiliated, 
for  the  captain  had  reproved  him  sharply  in  the 
presence  of  some  of  the  crew.  He  often  looked 
at  me  in  a  manner  which  boded  me  no  good.  Still 
I  did  not  feel  anxious,  for  I  knew  that  Captain 
Clark  was  just  and  humane,  and  would  not  tolerate 
any  abuse  on  the  part  of  the  mate. 

But  J  could  not  foresee  the  future.  I  did  not 
dream  what  misfortune  was  in  store  for  us.  We 
were  nearing  Madagascar,  when  the  captain  fell 
sick  of  some  mysterious  disorder,  and  in  the  space 
of  two  days  was  dead. 

So  it  chanced  that  we  sailors  lost  our  best  friend, 
and  John  Richmond  became  captain  in  his  place." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       259 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

THE  END  OF  JOHN  WOLF'S  NARRATIVE 

THE  three  looked  at  each  other  in  amazement. 

"John  Richmond!"  repeated  Guy.  "It  is  very 
strange.  But  read  on.  I  think  I  can  guess  how 
he  acted." 

Luke  Clark  proceeded  with  the  manuscript. 

"After  the  mate  became  captain,  things  changed 
for  the  sailors.  Before,  we  had  a  strict  disciplina 
rian,  but  a  kindly  one.  No  sailor  who  did  his  duty 
had  anything  to  complain  of.  After  that  we  were 
in  charge  of  a  tyrant.  Captain  Richmond,  for  this 
vvas  his  title  now,  did  not  forget  his  experiences 
or  animosities  as  mate.  There  were  several  whom 
he  disliked,  but  I  think  he  hated  me  the  most.  He 
would  have  abused  me,  but  I  knew  his  feelings,  and 
did  not  give  him  a  chance. 

I  think  he  disliked  me  all  the  more  on  that  ac 
count.  I  could  see,  by  the  way  he  looked  at  me  at 
times,  what  hatred  for  me  there  was  in  his  heart. 


260       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

I  think  he  disliked  me  the  more  because,  though 
only  a  common  seaman,  I  had  had  a  fine  education, 
and  he  knew  it.  In  that  respect  I  was  his  supe 
rior. 

Well,  about  this  time  there  came  a  storm.  It 
was  a  very  violent  storm,  unusual  in  that  latitude, 
and  it  drove  us  out  of  our  course  very  considerably. 
Instead  of  trying  to  get  into  the  regular  route  for 
vessels  bound  to  Bombay,  Captain  Richmond  kept 
the  ship  in  a  northeasterly  course  till  we  struck  the 
Agalegas  Islands. 

What  could  be  his  reason  I  did  not  comprehend, 
but  I  soon  understood  only  too  well.  He  went  on 
shore,  taking  myself  and  another  of  the  crew  with 
him.  We  kept  on  till  we  reached  the  woods.  Then 
the  captain  took  my  companion  with  him,  and  bade 
me  remain  where  I  was  on  some  pretext.  He  was 
to  come  for  me  later  on. 

I  waited  unsuspectingly  till  I  got  tired.  Then 
I  ascended  the  hill,  and  to  my  dismay  saw  the  Mi 
randa — that  wras  the  name  of  our  vessel — under 
full  sail,  bearing  out  to  sea.  In  an  instant  the  ter 
rible  truth  flashed  upon  me.  I  had  been  left,  help 
less  and  alone,  on  this  unknown  island,  with  very 
little  chance  of  ever  leaving  it,  for  it  was  not  in 
the  path  of  trading  vessels. 

I  was  almost  frantic  when  I  realized  what  a 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       261 

fearful  fate  was  reserved  for  me.  I  shrieked,  I 
shook  my  fist  at  the  receding  vessel.  I  called  down 
curses  on  the  head  of  the  fiend  who  had  taken  upon 
me  this  terrible  revenge,  or  rather  had  inflicted 
upon  me  this  unprovoked  punishment,  for  I  had 
done  nothing  to  incur  his  hostility. 

But  do  what  I  would  I  could  not  recall  the  Mi 
randa.  What  excuse  the  captain  made  for  my 
absence  I  do  not  know;  but  though  I  had  friends 
on  board,  there  was  no  one  who  would  dare  take 
my  part,  or  call  him  to  account  for  his  action. 

Four  years  have  passed  since  then.  They  have 
been  like  forty.  I  have  not  starved,  for  the  ber 
ries  and  fruits  which  the  island  affords,  together 
"with  the  fish  I  have  been  able  to  catch,  have  sus 
tained  me.  But  there  was  no  one  with  whom  I 
could  hold  converse — no  one  to  whom  I  could 
'speak,  so  it  is  a  wonder  I  have  not  forgotten  my 
native  tongue. 

For  a  time  I  bore  up,  sustained  by  the  hope  that 
some  vessel  would  touch  at  the  island  and  carry 
me  back  to  England.  In  the  four  years  I  have 
seen  two  ships,  but  I  was  unable  to  attract  the  at 
tention  of  anyone  on  board. 

So  hope  died  at  last,  and  I  have  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  for  me  there  is  no  release,  no  way 
of  escape.  I  am  forty-two  years  of  age.  Under 


262       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

ordinary  circumstances  I  might  hope  to  live  thirty- 
years  longer.  But  what  would  life  be  on  this  island, 
cut  off  from  human  companionship?  I  would 
rather  end  it  all,  and  have  decided  to  do  so.  When 
I  have  completed  this  record  I  shall  go  to  a  cliff  on 
the  northern  shore  of  the  island,  and  fling  myself 
into  the  sea.  Whether  any  eye  will  read  these 
lines,  I  cannot  tell.  I  hope  so.  I  hope  that  some 
one  will  learn  the  perfidious  and  cruel  conduct  of 
John  Richmond,  and  pity  his  poor  victim. 

JOHN  WOLF/' 

When  the  story  had  been  read  the  three  looked 
at  one  another  in  stupefaction. 

"It  is  terrible,"  said  Guy.  "Why  is  it  that  such 
things  are  permitted?" 

"Don't  you  think,  Guy,  that  this  partly  explains 
Captain  Richmond's  reluctance  to  stay  here?" 
asked  Abner  Titcomb. 

"Yes,"  answered  Guy,  quickly.  "I  had  not 
thought  of  that,  but  it  is  probably  the  case." 

"A  man  who  would  be  capable  of  wronging  a 
poor  sailor  like  John  Wolf,  and  dooming  him  to 
a  hopeless  captivity,  is  quite  capable  of  repeating 
the  atrocious  act,"  observed  Luke  Clark,  signifi 
cantly. 

"Yes,"  said  Titcomb,  gravely.     "I  agree  with 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       263 

you.  It  will  be  well  for  us  to  find  that  treasure 
as  soon  as  possible.  We  run  a  risk  every  time  we 
come  here." 

Luke  Clark  had  been  turning  over  the  leaves 
of  the  memorandum  book  from  which  he  had  read 
the  sailor's  story. 

"There  is  something  more,"  he  said;  "a  post 
script.  It  may  be  important.  I  will  read  it." 

This  was  what  he  read : 

"I  may  as  well  record  here  an  important  discov 
ery  I  chanced  to  make  one  day.  It  is  of  no  use  to 
me,  but  it  may  benefit  the  persons  into  whose  hands 
this  book  may  fall.  At  the  north  end  of  the  island, 
about  two  hundred  feet  from  the  edge  of  the  bluff, 
there  is  a  group  of  trees  arranged  singularly  in 
the  shape  of  a  cross.  Between  the  second  and  third 
trees,  at  about  eighteen  inches  from  the  surface,  is 
a  sailor's  chest,  full  of  gold,  silver,  and  jewels.  I 
cannot  estimate  the  value,  but  it  must  be  large.  I 
fancy  it  was  hidden  here  by  pirates.  It  must  have 
been  forgotten,  however,  for  no  one  has  visited  it 
since  I  have  been  on  this  island. 

If  I  could  only  get  away,  this  treasure  would 
make  me  rich.  It  is  a  tantalizing  thought.  As  I 
am  situated  it  is  of  no  earthly  use  to  me.  Some 
time — it  may  be  years  hence — it  will  be  found  by 


264       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

some  lucky  person,  perhaps  by  the  one  who  reads 
this  account,  and  it  will  make  him  rich.  Such  good 
fortune  is  not  for  me.  If  I  could  only  escape  from 
this  island,  which,  charming  as  it  is,  I  have  learned 
to  detest,  I  would  be  willing  to  live  in  abject  pov 
erty  for  the  rest  of  my  life.  Wealth  is  far  from 
my  thoughts " 

"Is  that  all?"  asked  Guy,  when  Luke  Clark 
stopped  reading. 

"Yes." 

"It  is  indeed  strange.  I  thought  the  group  of 
trees  must  be  in  the  wood  somewhere.  We  have 
been  on  the  wrong  scent." 

"But  we  have  succeeded  at  last.  Let  us  be 
thankful  for  that.  We  can  probably  finish  up  our 
work  in  a  day  or  two,  and  then — we  can  go  home." 

"We  must  go  to  Bombay  first." 

"Yes.  We  can  stand  that,  since  the  delay  will 
be  brief." 

"Shall  we  tell  Captain  Richmond  that  we  have 
succeeded?"  asked  Luke. 

"Perhaps  it  will  be  well  to  drop  a  hint  that  we 
are  on  the  point  of  making  a  discovery.  That  will 
encourage  him,  and  insure  his  waiting.  It  is  not 
well  to  tell  him  too  much." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       265 

"It  is  time  to  go  down  to  the  beach.  Only  one 
day  more !" 

The  three  descended  the  hill,  and  reached  the 
beach  about  five  o'clock. 

They  were  seen  from  the  ship,  and  the  boat  was 
sent  for  them. 

"Well,"  said  the  captain,  with  his  usual  sneer, 
as  they  climbed  on  deck,  "have  you  discovered  the 
mare's  nest?" 

The  remark  was  addressed  to  Guy. 

"I  have  reason  to  think  we  shall  locate  the  treas 
ure  to-morrow,  Captain  Richmond." 

"What  ground  have  you  for  that  assertion?" 
asked  the  captain,  quickly. 

"Excuse  my  explaining  now,  but  I  have  good 
reasons  for  my  belief." 

Captain  Richmond  scanned  Guy  closely,  being 
surprised  by  his  confident  tone. 

Guy's  face  was  bright  and  cheerful,  and  con 
firmed  his  words.  He  thought  that  the  captain 
would  question  him  further,  but  the  commander 
only  looked  thoughtful,  and  turning  on  his  heel 
without  a  word  went  down  to  his  cabin.  , 

"I  wish  I  could  read  his  thoughts,"  Guy  said 
to  himself.  "He  doesn't  seem  glad  that  I  am 
likely  to  succeed.  He  even  looks  as  if  he  were  dis 
appointed." 


266       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Very  likely.  He's  a  strange  man,  and  a  dis 
agreeable  one." 

Later  in  the  evening,  say  about  nine  o'clock, 
Abner  Titcomb  and  Luke  Clark  were  leaning  over 
the  side,  talking,  as  was  natural,  of  the  stirring 
events  of  the  day,  when  the  captain  passed,  neither 
of  them  being  aware  of  his  nearness. 

There  was  one  word  which  caught  his  attention. 
It  was  the  name  Miranda. 

He  stopped  short,  and  there  was  a  startled  look 
on  his  face. 

"Did  I  hear  the  name  Miranda?"  he  asked, 
quickly. 

"Yes,"  answered  Titcomb,  conscious  of  his  im 
prudence. 

The  captain  turned  away,  but  he  looked  suspi 
cious  and  agitated,  and  began  to  mutter  to  himself , 
looking  darkly  from  time  to  time  at  the  two  men. 

"Does  he  suspect  anything,  do  you  think?"  asked 
Titcomb. 

"No;  I  don't  think  so." 

"All  the  same,  I  wish  that  I  had  kept  my  tongue 
between  my  teeth." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       267 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

HOW  SUCCESS  BECAME  FAILURE 

THE  next  morning,  when  Guy  and  his  two  com 
panions  started  for  the  island,  their  faces  were 
bright  with  hope  and  expectation.  They  felt  that 
success  was  at  hand. 

They  never  doubted  the  truth  of  the  statement 
which  they  had  read  in  John  Wolf's  memorandum 
book.  There  had  been  times  when  they  had  been 
despondent,  but  all  fear  of  failure  was  now  re 
moved. 

They  were  too  much  absorbed  in  their  own 
thoughts  to  notice  the  rather  remarkable  demeanor 
of  the  captain,  who  stood  on  the  deck,  silent  and 
watchful,  while  his  three  passengers  were  taking 
their  places  in  the  boat. 

They  were  provided  with  a  pickaxe  and  a  shovel. 
These  Guy  had  brought  with  him  from  home,  in 
the  hope  that  they  would  be  required  in  unearthing 
the  treasure  of  which  he  was  in  search. 

Hitherto  they  had  not  carried  these  implements 
on  their  daily  trips  to  the  island,  but  the  time  had 
now  come  when  they  would  be  of  use. 


268       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Captain  John  Richmond  smiled  cynically  as  he 
watched  the  boat  lowered  and  the  three  explorers 
entering  it.  Probably  no  one  of  the  sailors  no 
ticed  his  expression  except  Frank  Low,  on  whom 
it  produced  a  feeling  of  uneasiness. 

"I  wonder  what  the  captain's  thinking  about," 
he  said  to  himself. 

Captain  Richmond  stood  silent  and  thoughtful 
till  he  saw  the  party  land  on  the  island  beach.  Then 
he  waited  quietly  till  the  boat  returned. 

He  waited  longer,  and  through  the  glass  saw 
Guy  and  his  companions  plunge  into  the  forest. 

Then  he  called  the  mate,  and  gave  him  an  order 
which  was  received  with  intense  astonishment. 

"Surely,  Captain  Richmond,"  he  said,  "you  are 
not  in  earnest!" 

"Mr.  Forbush,"  said  the  captain,  sternly,  "I'll 
thank  you  not  to  question  my  orders." 

"But,  Captain  Richmond,  you  are  surely  not  go 
ing  to  put  out  to  sea,  leaving  your  three  passengers 
on  the  island!" 

"That  is  just  what  I  am  going  to  do,"  said  the 
captain,  with  an  oath. 

"But,  sir " 

"Do  you  understand,  Mr.  Forbush,  that  I  am 
the  captain  of  this  vessel?" 

"Yes,  sir." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       269 

"I  understand  my  business,  and  I  don't  choose 
to  have  my  orders  questioned. " 

"But,  sir,  this  is  monstrous!"  protested  the  mate. 

"Another  word,  sir,  and  I  will  put  you  in  irons !" 

The  mate  looked  at  the  captain,  and  saw  that  he 
was  almost  beside  himself  with  rage.  Evidently 
he  was  in  no  condition  to  be  expostulated  with. 

It  seemed  necessary  to  give  in  to  him  for  the 
present,  and  the  mate  called  the  boatswain  to  pipe 
the  crew  to  duty. 

There  was  more  than  one  perplexed  and  won 
dering  face  as  the  sailors  prepared  the  ship  for  set 
ting  sail.  They  all  asked  themselves  what  it  meant, 
and  whether  the  three  men  on  the  island  were  to 
be  left  behind. 

But  no  one  dared  to  ask  the  captain,  who,  stern 
and  resolute,  kept  his  place  on  deck,  and  personally 
saw  that  his  orders  were  carried  out.  Perhaps  the 
one  who  felt  the  deepest  grief  and  dismay  was 
Frank  Low,  who  saw  that  what  he  had  most  feared 
was  about  to  take  place. 

He  knew,  too — for  Guy  had  got  a  chance  to  tell 
him — that  the  scheme  was  all  but  discovered,  and 
that  this  would  be  the  last  day  upon  the  island. 

Poor  Frank!  Unwillingly  enough  he  was  com 
pelled  to  take  his  part  in  getting  the  ship  ready  for 
a  start. 


270       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

Had  he  dared,  he  would  have  made  a  personal 
protest  to  the  captain,  but  he  knew  that  while  this 
would  bring  swift  punishment  to  him  it  would  do 
his  friends  no  good.  So  with  a  perplexed  brow 
and  sinking  heart  he  bore  his  part,  and  kept  silence 
till  the  mate  chanced  to  be  standing  near  him. 
Then  he  felt  he  must  speak. 

"Mr.  Forbush,"  he  said,  "what  does  this  mean? 
Are  we  going  to  desert  Guy  Fenwick  and  his  men  ?" 

It  was  a  breach  of  discipline  to  say  as  much  as 
this,  but  he  knew  that  the  mate  felt  kindly  toward 
him  and  toward  Guy. 

"Heaven  only  knows,"  replied  the  mate,  in  a 
low  voice.  "I  have  done  the  best  I  could  to  pre 
vent  him,  but  the  captain  won't  hear  a  word." 

"They  will  die!"  said  Frank,  in  a  faltering 
voice. 

"Not  a  word  more  now;  the  captain  is  coming!" 

Captain  Richmond  came  up,  looking  stern  and 
forbidding,  and  watched  with  a  lynx-like  glance 
all  that  was  going  on. 

The  mate  determined  to  make  one  more  remon 
strance. 

"Captain  Richmond,"  he  said,  "does  Guy  Fen- 
wick  know  of  your  intention  of  putting  to  sea  ?" 

The  captain  looked  as  if  he  were  about  to  in- 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       271 

dulge  in  a  burst  of  furious  anger,  but  he  restrained 
himself,  with  a  sudden  thought. 

"Yes,"  he  said,  "he  understands.  We  are  com 
ing  back  for  him,"  he  added,  after  a  pause. 

Mr.  Forbush  looked  skeptical.  He  did  not  be 
lieve  a  word  of  this. 

He  was  about  to  speak  again  when  the  captain 
added,  peremptorily:  "I  wish  to  hear  no  more 
on  this  subject,  Mr.  Forbush.  I  know  what  I  am 
about." 

After  this  it  would  not  do  even  for  the  mate  to 
say  more. 

Still,  the  latter  regarded  the  captain  fixedly, 
which  appeared  to  anger  him. 

"Don't  look  at  me  in  that  way,  Mr.  Forbush!" 
roared  the  captain.  "I  repeat  that  I  know  what 
I  am  about!" 

"I  am  glad  you  do,  sir,"  said  the  mate,  coolly. 

Captain  Richmond  glared  at  him,  but  did  not 
reply. 

Within  an  hour  the  Osprey,  under  full  sail,  for 
there  was  a  good  breeze,  was  speeding  away  from 
the  island. 

We  must  now  follow  Guy  and  his  two  friends, 
who  had  gone  ashore  in  high  spirits,  feeling  that 
success  was  within  their  grasp.  They  did  not  loiter 
on  their  way,  but  made  all  h^ste  to  reach  that  part 


272       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

of  the  island  indicated  as  the  repository  of  the 
treasure. 

As  they  walked  they  talked  cheerfully  and  hope 
fully  of  the  future. 

"Guy,"  said  Abner,  "you  are  entitled  to  credit 
for  your  enterprise  and  pluck.  It  isn't  many  boys 
of  your  age  that  would  have  done  so  much." 

"I  don't  know  about  that,  Abner,"  said  Guy, 
modestly;  "but  I  have  done  the  best  I  could." 

"And  you  will  be  well  paid." 

"I  hope  so.  Not  so  much  for  my  own  sake  as 
my  father's.  I  want  to  make  his  latter  days  com 
fortable." 

"Why,  he  isn't  so  old!  He's  only  about  ten 
years  older  than  I  am." 

"True;  but  you  know  as  soon  as  a  minister  has 
passed  middle  life  some  are  anxious  to  turn  him 
off  and  put  a  younger  man  in  his  place." 

"Is  that  the  case  in  Bayport?" 

"Yes.  There  is  one  of  the  congregation — Dei- 
con  Crane — who  is  anxious  to  get  rid  of  him.  I 
don't  think  there  are  many  who  agree  with  him, 
but  I  know  he  will  do  all  he  can  to  bring  about  a 
change." 

"It's  a  lucky  thing  Luke  came  across  that  memo 
randum  book.  I  don't  believe  we  should  any  of 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       273 

us  have  thought  of  going  to  the  other  end  of  the 
island." 

"It  would  have  been  a  good  while,  probably,  be 
fore  we  did." 

"And  Captain  Richmond  would  have  got  tired 
of  waiting.  Did  you  drop  him  a  hint  that  we  were 
on  the  right  track?" 

"Yes;  but  I  don't  believe  he  put  any  faith  in 
my  words." 

"He  will  have  to  believe  it  when  we  carry  the 
treasure  on  board." 

At  length,  following  the  directions  of  Wolf,  the 
unfortunate  sailor,  they  reached  the  locality  speci 
fied. 

There  stood  the  six  trees,  arranged  in  the  shape 
of  a  cross.  There  were  no  other  trees  within  two 
hundred  feet,  and  this  made  them  conspicuous. 

"If  we  had  ever  come  this  way  we  could  not 
have  failed  to  discover  them,"  said  Titcomb;  "and 
after  all,  the  pirates  were  wise  to  select  this  place, 
rather  than  one  in  the  heart  of  the  woods." 

They  lost  no  time  in  digging  between  the  second 
and  third  trees,  according  to  directions. 

"I  hope  no  one  has  been  here  before,"  said  Luke 
Clark,  between  the  strokes  of  his  pickaxe. 

"There  was  no  one  to  come  here  except  John 
Wolf,  and  he  would  have  had  no  object  in  it." 


274       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

In  a  very  short  time  Abner  Titcomb's  pickaxe 
struck  something  hard. 

''That's  the  chest,  I  surmise,"  he  said. 

The  three  redoubled  their  efforts,  and,  sure 
enough,  they  soon  laid  bare  the  chest  which  for 
so  many  years  had  been  buried  in  its  secret  hiding 
place. 

It  proved  to  be  locked,  but  by  good  luck  Guy, 
who  had  with  him  the  key  of  his  uncle's  chest  in 
the  attic  of  his  home  in  Bayport,  was  able  to  open 
it. 

The  sight  dazzled  them.  There  were  vases 
filled  with  gold  and  silver  coin,  and  three  or  four 
wallets  stuffed  with  bank  bills,  besides  watches — 
there  looked  to  be  fifty  or  sixty  of  these — and  jew 
elry. 

"Well!  well!  This  is  a  find!"  said  Abner  Tit- 
comb.  "You  are  rich  for  life,  Guy!" 

Guy's  face  flushed  with  pride  and  joy. 

"Mr.  Saunders  will  be  satisfied,  I  think,"  he  said, 
simply.  "The  question  is  now,  how  shall  we  get 
the  chest  to  the  beach?" 

"I  think  we  shall  have  to  wait  till  to-morrow. 
I  doubt  if  we  can  carry  it  so  far.  We  can  bring 
some  of  the  sailors  with  us  to  help." 

"Won't  there  be  a  risk  in  leaving  it?" 

"There  is  no  one  on  the  island.     Still,  we  had 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       275 

better  cover  it  up  and  get  back  to  the  beach,  al 
though  it  is  yet  early." 

It  was  at  least  four  miles  to  the  beach.  When 
they  arrived  there  their  hearts  were  filled  with 
dismay,  for  looking  out  to  sea,  they  could  see  noth 
ing  of  the  Osprey!  She  had  mysteriously  disap 
peared. 


276       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

THE  CRUISE  OF  THE  OSPREY 

GUY  and  his  two  companions  looked  at  one  an 
other,  with  pale  faces  and  sinking  hearts. 

"What  does  it  mean?"  Guy  faltered. 

"It  means,"  said  Abner,  hoarsely,  "that  that 
fiend,  Captain  Richmond,  has  served  us  as  he  did 
the  poor  sailor,  John  Wolf." 

"But  he  can't  have  gone  away  for  good!  He 
will  come  back!" 

Guy  spoke  hopefully,  but  he  did  not  himself  be 
lieve  what  he  said. 

"Just  as  we  had  succeeded,  too !" 

"If  we  had  only  made  the  discovery  yesterday; 
but  now  it  is  too  late!" 

"Boys,"  said  Abner  Titcomb,  "let  us  sit  down 
and  discuss  our  position  as  calmly  as  we  can.  If 
there  is  any  favorable  side  to  it  let  us  try  to  find 


it." 


"But  is  there  any?"  sighed  Luke  Clark. 
"Yes;  to  begin  with,  we  sha'n't  starve.     The 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       277 

products  of  the  island  will  sustain  us,  as  they  did 
John  Wolf." 

"But  life  won't  be  worth  sustaining  if  we  have 
to  live  as  he  did.  We  may  be  driven,  like  him, 
to  throw  ourselves  into  the  sea." 

"He  was  alone,  and  there  are  three  of  us.  Be 
sides,  our  fate  will  be  known  to  the  whole  ship's 


crew." 


"I  don't  understand  why  the  mate  permitted  it." 
"No  doubt  he  protested,  but  what  could  he  do? 
In  a  conflict  of  authority  between  the  captain  and 
the  mate  the  latter  must  go  to  the  wall." 
"Then  what  hope  is  there?" 
"As  soon  as  the  ship  reaches  Bombay  someone 
on  board  will  notify  Mr.  Saunders  of  what  has 
happened." 

"Frank  Low  would  do  that,  if  there  were  no 
one  else,"  said  Guy,  beginning  to  be  hopeful. 
"Yes;  and  he  would  send  for  us." 
"But  weeks  must  pass  before  help  can  arrive." 
"True;  and  they  will  seem  more  like  months; 
but  I  am  sure  all  will  come  right  in  the  end." 

"Meanwhile,"  said  Guy,  recovering  in  a  meas 
ure  from  his  depression,  "we  must  adapt  ourselves 
to  circumstances,  and  make  ourselves  as  comfort 
able  as  we  can." 


278       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Let  us  begin,  then,  by  taking  lunch.  We  have 
been  so  occupied  with  the  treasure  that  we  have 
forgotten  to  eat." 

Meanwhile  the  Osprey  was  speeding  from  the 
island,  and  was  already  fifty  miles  away.  Every 
one  on  board,  even  to  the  humblest  sailor,  looked 
grave.  Everyone  was  thinking  of  poor  Guy  and 
his  companions  on  their  island  prison. 

Guy  was  a  general  favorite,  partly  on  account 
of  his  good  looks,  partly  on  account  of  his  bright, 
kindly  ways,  and  indignation  against  the  captain 
on  account  of  his  cruel  and  inhuman  course  was 
general  and  intense. 

When  the  time  came  for  dinner,  the  captain 
sat  down  to  it  alone.  Mr.  Forbush,  the  mate, 
excused  himself  on  the  plea  that  he  had  no  appe 
tite. 

Captain  Richmond  was  angry,  for  he  penetrated 
the  mate's  objection  to  sitting  down  with  him. 

"Just  as  you  please,  Mr.  Forbush,"  he  said,  in 
a  tone  of  irritation,  "but  you  are  acting  very  fool 
ishly." 

"You  may  regard  it  in  that  light,  if  you  choose, 
Captain  Richmond,"  returned  the  mate,  coldly. 

"Have  you  anything  to  say  to  me?"  asked  the 
captain,  defiantly. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       279 

"I  have  already  expressed  my  opinion  of  your 
course,"  said  Forbush,  frigidly. 

"I  know  what  I  am  about,"  blustered  the  cap 
tain. 

"You  have  said  that  before.  I  can  only  repeat 
that  I  am  glad  of  it." 

"Perhaps  you  mean  to  dispute  my  authority/' 
said  the  captain,  in  a  quarrelsome  tone. 

"Wait  till  I  do,  sir." 

Captain  Richmond  swore  softly  to  himself,  and 
eyed  the  mate  with  a  glance  far  from  friendly. 

So  the  day  passed,  and  another  dawned. 

Captain  Richmond  was  unusually  irritable.  He 
saw  that  all  on  board  looked  at  him  askance.  The 
sailors  obeyed  him,  so  that  he  had  no  excuse  for 
complaint,  but  there  was  an  utter  absence  of  cor 
diality,  and  he  was  in  the  position  of  a  social  outcast 
who  is  "sent  to  Coventry." 

This  is  not  a  pleasant  position  for  anyone,  least 
of  all  for  an  arrogant  and  ill-tempered  man  like 
Captain  Richmond.  While  it  cannot  be  said  that 
he  regretted  his  inhuman  conduct,  he  was  angry 
at  the  unpopularity  he  had  acquired  through  it. 

Besides,  he  could  not  doubt  that  it  would  be 
reported  at  Bombay,  and  the  matter  perhaps 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  American  consul. 
Whenever  he  thought  of  this  he  felt  vaguely  un- 


280       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

comfortable,  but  he  was  too  self-willed  to  retrace 
his  course  and  thus  admit  himself  to  be  in  the 
wrong. 

"Where  is  all  this  going  to  end,  Mr.  Forbush?" 
asked  the  boatswain  one  day.  "Are  those  poor 
fellows  to  be  left  to  their  fate?" 

"No,"  answered  the  mate,  firmly.  "I  shall  re 
port  the  matter  when  we  reach  Bombay,  and  I 
will  agree  to  head  an  expedition  for  their  relief." 

"But  how  will  they  get  along  meanwhile  ?  Won't 
they  starve?" 

"No.  Titcomb  told  me  that  the  island  produced 
enough  to  sustain  life." 

"Will  not  Captain  Richmond  be  punished?" 

"I  earnestly  hope  so.  If  my  representations  will 
effect  it,  he  will  lose  his  command." 

"The  man  must  be  a  fiend." 

"He  is  getting  worse  and  worse.  He  does  not 
treat  me  with  ordinary  civility,  and  he  is  begin 
ning  to  abuse  the  men.  He  has  not  a  pleasant  word 
for  anyone." 

It  was  indeed  true  that  Captain  Richmond  was 
becoming  more  despotic  and  tyrannical  than  ever. 
On  the  least  provocation  he  would  fell  a  seaman 
to  the  deck  or  launch  a  volley  of  curses  at  him. 

As  a  consequence,  there  were  more  angry  looks 
than  ever  directed  toward  him  as  he  paced  the  deck 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       281 

with  hasty  strides,  shaking  his  head,  and  muttering 
words  that  could  not  be  understood. 

One  day  he  treated  with  unusual  brutality  the 
Italian  sailor  already  referred  to,  Guido  Leporelli. 

Guido  was  a  short  man,  not  much  over  five  feet 
in  height,  and  the  captain  probably  regarded  him 
with  contempt,  as  one  whom  it  would  be  safe  to 
bully.  In  personal  strength,  Leporelli  was  as  a 
mere  child  compared  to  the  robust  captain,  but  he 
had  his  share  of  the  fiery  and  revengeful  spirit 
that  characterizes  a  large  number  of  his  country 
men. 

On  this  day  the  mate  caught  the  glance  with 
which  he  regarded  the  captain.  It  made  him  shud 
der. 

"I  should  not  like  to  make  an  enemy  of  Lepo 
relli,"  he  said  to  himself.  "I  think  he  means  mis 
chief." 

It  was  in  his  mind  to  warn  Captain  Richmond 
of  his  danger,  but  he  reflected  that,  should  he  do 
so,  it  would  bring  upon  the  Italian  worse  treatment 
than  ever,  and  he  was  not  willing  to  run  this  risk. 

"The  captain  must  take  his  chances,"  he  decided. 

It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  ninth  day  after 
leaving  the  island  that  Captain  Richmond,  in  pa 
cing  the  deck,  came  upon  Leporelli.  The  Italian 


282       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

was  moving  at  a  slow  pace,  for  he  had  a  rheumatic 
affection  in  his  left  leg. 

"Move  faster,  you  lazy  hound!"  said  the  cap 
tain,  roughly,  and  he  dealt  the  little  Italian  a  cruel 
blow  in  the  face. 

The  eyes  of  Guido  Leporelli  blazed  with  wrath. 
With  a  smothered  ejaculation  in  his  native  tongue 
he  pulled  out  a  murderous-looking  knife,  which  he 
had  been  carrying  for  several  days,  and  in  a  flash 
it  was  buried  in  the  breast  of  the  burly  captain. 

Captain  Richmond  fell  forward,  dying  almost 
instantly,  for  the  knife  had  penetrated  his  heart. 

A  smile  of  supreme  satisfaction  overspread  the 
Italian's  face  as  he  saw  his  brutal  tormentor  dead 
at  his  feet. 

"I  am  avenged!"  he  cried.  "Now  I  am  ready 
to  die!" 

With  the  blood-stained  knife  still  in  his  hand 
he  ran  to  the  edge  of  the  vessel  and  sprang  into 
the  sea. 

No  one  tried  to  prevent  him,  and  no  one  tried 
to  rescue  him.  His  life  was  forfeited  by  his  act,  and 
the  mate,  who  was  now  bending  over  the  captain, 
felt  that  his  self-punishment  was  the  speediest  set 
tlement  of  a  troublesome  complication. 

The  captain  was  raised  and  carried  to  his  cabin. 
Restoratives  were  applied,  but  in  vain.  It  soon 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       283 

became  evident  that  the  Italian's  thrust  was  fatal. 
Death  had  been  instantaneous. 

There  was  a  frown  on  the  captain's  face  that 
made  it  repellent,  yet  natural,  for  his  countenance 
in  life  had  been  seldom  without  it. 

Mr.  Forbush  assumed  command,  as  his  position 
required.  The  captain's  body  was  sewed  up  in 
sailcloth  and  committed  to  the  deep,  the  ex-mate 
reading  the  burial  service. 

Then  the  crew  were  summoned  to  meet  the  new 
captain. 

"Men,"  said  Captain  Forbush,  "the  captain's 
death  has  made  me  your  commander." 

There  was  an  attempt  at  applause,  but  with  a 
wave  of  his  hand  Mr.  Forbush  stopped  it. 

"I  shall  try  to  deserve  your  confidence  and  good 
will,"  he  continued.  "Of  the  dead  let  us  think 
and  speak  only  in  pity.  He  had  his  faults,  but  he 
has  been  terribly  punished.  It  is  proper  for  me  to 
state,  as  I  take  command,  that  I  shall  immediately 
reverse  the  ship's  course  and  return  to  the  island 
for  Guy  Fenwick  and  his  two  companions." 

Then  there  was  a  burst  of  approving  cheers 
which  Captain  Forbush  did  not  check. 


284       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

RESCUED 

MEANWHILE,  the  three  prisoners  on  the  island 
were  passing  their  time  dismally  enough.  There 
was  actually  nothing  for  them  to  do  except  to  seek 
enough  of  the  produce  of  the  island  to  sustain  life. 

This  they  were  able  to  do,  but  they  soon  tired 
of  their  monotonous  bill  of  fare. 

"I  would  give  something  for  a  good  New  Eng 
land  breakfast,"  said  Abner  Titcomb,  one  morn 
ing. 

"Baked  beans  and  brown  bread?"  suggested 
Guy,  with  a  smile. 

uYes;  or  fishcakes,  rolls,  and  coffee — anything 
substantial,  instead  of  these  sweet,  cloying  fruits." 

"I  think  I  agree  with  you,  Abner,"  said  Guy. 

"I  am  sure  I  do,"  added  Luke  Clark. 

It  may  seem  strange  that  they  had  never  made 
a  second  visit  to  the  place  where  the  treasure  was 
concealed;  but  it  had  lost  its  attractions  for  them. 

They  did  not  even  speculate  as  to  its  value.  It 
was  absolutely  worthless  to  them  in  their  present 
condition. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       285 

They  spent  most  of  their  time  on  the  summit 
of  the  hill,  looking  out  to  sea  in  search  of  a  ship. 
They  felt  that  the  Osprey  would  be  sent  back  for 
them,  but  it  was  long  to  wait.  If  they  could  get  off 
sooner,  so  much  the  better. 

Abner  Titcomb  had  a  marine  glass  with  him, 
and  this  helped  them. 

Once  with  his  glass  he  espied  a  ship,  a  mere 
speck  in  the  distance,  and  there  was  hope  that  it 
would  come  nearer  the  island. 

They  tried  to  signal  it,  but  it  was  too  far  away, 
and  no  heed  was  paid  to  the  white  sailcloth  that 
they  hoisted  above  the  hill  on  a  branch  of  a  tree. 
This  was  a  severe  disappointment. 

"John  Wolf  was  here  four  years  without  signal 
ing  a  sail,"  said  Luke  Clark,  in  a  tone  of  discour^ 
agement.  "There  seems  to  be  little  hope  for  us.'1 

So  day  followed  day,  and  each  one  seemed  longer 
than  the  last. 

They  liked  to  sit  and  talk  of  their  New  England 
homes,  and  all  that  made  them  attractive.  They 
tried  to  fancy  how  those  who  were  dear  to  them 
were  occupied. 

"My  father  is  writing  his  sermon  for  Sunday," 
Guy  would  say  on  a  Saturday  morning.  "What 
would  he  think  if  he  could  know  where  I  am?" 


286       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"It  is  well  he  doesn't  know,  since  he  could  do 
you  no  good,"  rejoined  Titcomb. 

"Yes;  it  would  only  make  the  dear  old  man  un 
happy.  I  don't  want  him  to  know  it  till  he  also 
knows  that  I  am  safe." 

"How  long  is  it  since  we  were  left  here?"  asked 
Luke  Clark.  "Have  you  kept  the  record?" 

"Yes,  this  is  the  seventeenth  day." 

"And  we  are  still  alive  I  Well  that's  a  comfort, 
any  way." 

Abner  Titcomb  had  been  using  his  glass. 

"Boys!"  he  said,  suddenly,  in  a  tone  of  excite 
ment,  "I  see  a  sail !" 

"Where?"  exclaimed  Guy  and  Lake  Clark  to 
gether. 

Titcomb  pointed  in  a  directflR  east  by  south. 

"Look  again  !  Notice  if  it  seems  to  be  approach 
ing  the  island." 

There  was  silence  for  five  minutes. 

"Yes,"  he  said,  "it  seems  to  be  coming  toward 
us.  Here,  Guy,  your  eyes  are  better  than  mine; 
take  the  glass,  and  see  whether  I  am  right." 

Guy  took  the  glass  and  turned  it  in  the  direction 
of  the  ship. 

"Abner!  Luke!"  he  said,  in  a  tremulous  voice. 
"I  think  it  looks  like  the  Osprey." 

"Give  me  the  glass — quick!"  said  Luke. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       287 

He  took  a  long  look  seaward. 

"Well,  well!  What  do  you  make  out?'*  asked 
Abner. 

"I  think  Guy  is  right.  It  does  look  like  the 
Osprey." 

"But  it  can't  be!  There  has  not  been  time  for 
her  to  go  to  Bombay  and  return." 

This  was  evident,  and  they  felt  that  they  could 
not  be  correct. 

But  half  an  hour  later  it  was  clear  that  the  ship 
was  steering  for  the  island.  An  hour  later  all  were 
sure  that  it  was  the  Osprey. 

"Let  us  raise  our  signal  and  then  go  down  to 
the  beach,"  said  Guy. 

His  suggestion  was  followed.  Leaving  the  sig 
nal  on  the  summit  of  the  hill,  they  made  their  way 
downward,  through  the  belt  of  woods,  to  the  shore. 

Still  one  or  another  looked  through  the  glass  un 
til  doubt  became  certainty,  and  the  familiar  form 
of  the  Osprey  was  clearly  to  be  seen. 

"Thank  God!"  said  Titcomb,  fervently. 

No  sooner  was  the  Osprey  near  enough  than  a 
boat  was  lowered.  Among  those  it  bore  were  For- 
bush  and  Frank  Low. 

As  they  landed,  the  three  prisoners  rushed  joy 
fully  to  greet  them. 


288       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Then  Captain  Richmond  relented?"  said  Guy. 
"He  repented  of  his  inhuman  course?" 

"Captain  Richmond  is  dead,"  said  Frank  Low, 
gravely.  "Mr.  Forbush  is  now  captain." 

"But  how  did  he  die?  Was  he  stricken  with 
disease?" 

"He  fell  a  victim  to  his  brutality.  He  was 
stabbed  to  the  heart  by  Leporelli,  whom  he  had 
abused." 

It  was  Captain  Forbush  who  said  this. 

"As  soon  as  I  took  command  I  ordered  the  ship's 
course  to  be  reversed,  and  I  came  here  in  search 
of  you.  I  will  give  you  a  reasonable  time  to  find 
the  treasure." 

"Captain  Forbush,  the  treasure  is  found!"  said 
Guy.  "To-morrow  I  will  ask  you  to  lend  me  the 
assistance  of  two  of  your  sailors  to  carry  it  on 
board  the  Osprey." 

"You  shall  have  it,"  said  the  captain,  promptly. 
"I  congratulate  you,  Guy,  on  your  success." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       289 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

DIVIDING  THE  TREASURE 

JOHN  SAUNDERS  sat  in  his  office  in  Bombay.  Be 
fore  him  lay  a  letter  from  his  New  York  corre 
spondent,  Gilbert  Frazer. 

It  ran  thus : 

I  have  had  a  call  from  a  boy  of  sixteen,  Guy 
Fenwick,  who  showed  credentials  from  you,  and 
appears  to  have  been  intrusted  with  an  extraordi 
nary  commission.  I  complied  with  your  instruc 
tions  and  supplied  him  with  the  money  he  called 
for,  as  per  account  inclosed.  I  hope  I  have  done 
right.  It  seemed  singular  to  me  that  you  should 
have  employed  as  your  confidential  agent  a  boy  so 
young.  I  hope  you  will  excuse  the  liberty  I  take  in 
referring  to  this. 

There  was  more  of  the  same  tenor. 
Mr.  Saunders  read  the  note  with  a  complacent 
smile. 

"I  have  no  doubt  Frazer  was  very  much  sur- 


290       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

prised,"  he  said  to  himself.  "Indeed,  I  should 
myself  have  been  surprised  had  anyone  told  me 
a  year  since  that  I  would  have  so  far  trusted  so 
young  an  agent.  But  Guy  Fenwick  is  an  extraor 
dinary  boy,  and  I  still  feel  that  I  have  made  no 
mistake. 

"To  be  sure,"  he  added,  after  a  pause,  "this 
expedition  in  search  of  the  pirates'  treasure  may 
be  foolish,  but  even  on  that  I  reserve  my  decision. 
I  shall  be  interested  to  hear  how  Guy  makes  out." 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  opening  of  the  office 
door  and  the  sudden  entrance  of  the  boy  who  had 
been  occupying  his  thoughts. 

"Guy  Fenwick!"  he  exclaimed,  in  a  tone  of  evi 
dent  pleasure. 

"Yes,  Mr.  Saunders,"  said  Guy,  with  a  smile. 
"Didn't  you  expect  to  see  me  again?" 

"Not  so  soon.  What  have  you  to  report?  Did 
you  find  the  island?" 

"Yes,  sir;  and  that  was  not  all." 

"You  don't  mean  to  say  that  you  have  found  the 
treasure?" 

"Yes,  I  do.  It  is  at  the  door,  in  charge  of  three 
men,  and  with  your  permission  I  will  have  it 
brought  in." 

Without  waiting  for  an  answer  Guy  gave  a 
signal,  and  three  strong  men  carried  in  the  sailor's 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       291 

chest  which  had  been  unearthed  at  the  island.  Guy 
dismissed  the  men,  and  then,  unlocking  the  chest, 
threw  it  open,  disclosing  the  treasure. 

The  merchant  was  dazzled. 

"This  is  wonderful !"  he  ejaculated. 

"Now,  Mr.  Saunders,"  said  Guy,  "I  have  ful 
filled  my  part  of  the  contract.  I  will  leave  the 
treasure  with  you." 

"I  will  have  it  appraised  and  render  an  account 
to  you,  Guy.  You  will  dine  with  me?" 

"Thank  you,  sir;  but  in  the  meantime,  as  I  have 
been  confined  so  long  on  shipboard,  I  will  g<?  out 
and  take  a  walk." 

It  was  three  days  before  the  examination  and 
appraisal  were  completed.  Then  Mr.  Saunders 
announced  to  his  young  agent  that  the  value  of  the 
treasure  was  fifty  thousand  pounds,  or  two  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

"Of  this,"  he  said,  "your  share  is  one-half,  or 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars." 

"But,  sir,  you  advanced  me  a  thousand  pounds!" 

"I  shall  make  no  account  of  that.  You  deserve  a 
full  half  as  a  reward  for  your  energy  and  enter 
prise." 

"And  I  am  really  worth  over  a  hundred  thou 
sand  dollars?"  said  Guy,  hardly  able  to  realize  his 
good  fortune. 


292       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Yes;  and  if  you  choose  to  stay  with  me  I  will 
employ  you  at  a  liberal  salary." 

"Thank  you,  Mr.  Saunders;  but  I  would  like  a 
year's  vacation.  I  want  to  go  home  and  gladden 
my  father  with  the  good  news." 

"Certainly.    That  is  only  reasonable." 

The  Osprey,  on  its  return  voyage,  carried  Guy 
and  his  two  assistants  as  passengers. 

He  divided  ten  thousand  dollars  between  Abner 
Titcomb,  Luke  Clark,  and  Captain  Forbush,  feel 
ing  that  he  was  under  special  obligations  to  all 
three,  and  that  he  would  still  be  left  as  rich  as  he 
could  reasonably  desire. 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       293 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

BACK  IN  BAYPORT 

IN  Bayport,  things  were  moving  on  as  usual. 
From  week  to  week  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fenwick  ap 
peared  in  the  pulpit  of  the  village  church,  and  offi 
ciated  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  but  a  small  minority 
of  the  parish. 

For  there  were  a  few  malcontents,  headed  by 
Deacon  Crane,  who  had  not  yet  lost  the  hope  of 
seeing  the  pulpit  filled  by  his  cousin,  who,  not  being 
popular,  had  been  unemployed  more  than  half  the 
time  during  the  past  year. 

The  deacon  went  about  and  dropped  disparaging 
remarks  about  Mr.  Fenwick,  but  they  did  not  bear 
fruit.  To  his  chagrin,  he  found  that  very  few 
cared  for  a  change. 

He  was  perplexed,  but  none  the  less  determined 
to  bring  about  his  desires. 

To  facilitate  his  purpose,  he  informed  the  treas 
urer  of  the  parish  that  he  should  reduce  by  one- 
half  his  subscription  to  the  parish  expenses. 


294       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"Why  is  this,  Deacon  Crane?"  asked  the  treas 
urer.  "Are  you  getting  poor?" 

"No,  Brother  Jones;  but  I  ain't  exactly  satisfied 
with  our  pastor." 

"Why  not?" 

"I  don't  seem  to  get  much  spiritooal  refreshment 
from  his  sermons." 

"The  rest  of  the  congregation  do,  and  they  are 
to  be  considered." 

The  deacon  had  nothing  to  say  in  reply,  but  he 
stayed  at  home  the  next  Sunday. 

One  reason  for  his  dissatisfaction  came  from  a 
letter  he  had  received  from  his  clerical  relative, 
asking  for  the  loan  of  one  hundred  dollars. 

"I  can't  lend  you  the  money,"  he  replied;  "but 
if  I  can  get  the  parish  to  dismiss  Mr.  Fenwick,  I 
will  try  to  get  you  in  his  place." 

It  was  while  the  deacon  was  exercised  in  this 
way  that  his  son  Noah  ran  into  the  store  one  after 
noon  and  exclaimed:  "Who  do  you  think  has  just 
gone  past  the  store?" 

"You  had  better  tell  me,  Noah.  I  can't  waste 
my  time  in  guessing." 

"It  was  the  minister's  son,  Guy." 

Deacon  Crane  pricked  up  his  ears. 

"How  did  he  look?" 

"Pretty  fair." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       295 

"He's  probably  lost  his  place,  and  come  home  to 
live  on  his  father." 

"Shouldn't  be  a  bit  surprised,  dad." 

"Noah,"  said  the  deacon,  much  shocked,  "never 
call  me  dad  again  !  It  isn't  respectful !" 

"All  right,  father.  You'd  better  call  at  the  min 
ister's  and  find  out  what  brings  Guy  home  this 


time." 


"I  think  I  may  have  occasion  to  call  this  even 
ing,"  replied  the  deacon 

Meanwhile  we  will  follow  Guy  home. 

His  father  was  overjoyed  to  see  his  son  back 
again,  for  he  was  deeply  attached  to  his  only  child. 

After  the  first  greetings  were  over,  Guy  said: 
"You  don't  ask  me  whether  I  am  still  at  work  for 
Mr.  Saunders.'" 

"I  thought  you  would  tell  me  in  due  time,  Guy. 
Now  I  can  only  think  with  joy  of  your  return." 

"Well,  father,  I  mean  to  stay  at  home,  or  at 
least  near  home,  for  a  year.  Mr.  Saunders  has 
given  me  a  vacation  of  twelve  months." 

"Doubtless,  my  son,  you  can  find  some  employ 
ment  here,  since  he  will  not  need  you  for  a  year." 

Guy  smiled. 

"There  is  no  reason  to  worry  about  that, 
father,"  he  said.  "How  are  you  getting  on  with 
Deacon  Crane?" 


296       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  think,  Guy,  he  would  prefer  to  have  a  young 
er  man  in  my  place.  It  makes  me  feel  that  I  am 
growing  old." 

uPooh,  father!  You  are  only  fifty-two.  But, 
tell  me,  did  you  not  at  one  time  think  of  writing 
a  commentary  on  the  Gospels?" 

"Yes,  Guy;  but  my  sermon  writing  takes  all  my 


time." 


"Then  why  not  apply  to  the  parish  to  give  you 
a  young  man  as  a  colleague?" 

"The  parish  cannot  afford  to  pay  two  salaries." 

"Then  you  might  offer  to  serve  as  senior  pastor 
without  salary." 

"But,  Guy,  how  am  I  to  live?" 

"What  salary  does  the  parish  pay  you  now?" 

"A  thousand  dollars." 

"Very  well,  father,  ask  for  an  assistant,  and  I 
will  pay  you  twelve  hundred  dollars  a  year." 

"I  suppose  you  are  joking,  Guy." 

"Not  at  all.     I  am  in  earnest." 

"But  where  are  you  to  get  the  money?"  asked 
Mr.  Fenwick,  looking  at  his  son  in  bewilderment. 

"I  must  tell  you,  father,  that  I  am  worth  over  a 
hundred  thousand  dollars." 

"If  you  had  not  always  been  truthful,  Guy,  I 
should  think  that  you  were  trying  to  deceive  me." 

Then  Guy  explained.    The  explanation  was,  to 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       297 

his  father,  a  marvelous  one,  and  he  had  many  ques 
tions  to  ask. 

"Now,  father,"  Guy  concluded,  "I  will  alter  the 
terms  of  my  proposal.  I  will  make  over  to  you 
outright  the  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars, 
and  you  can  invest  it  so  as  to  produce  a  good  in 
come." 

Finally,  Mr.  Fenwick  accepted  his  son's  pro 
posal,  and  agreed  to  communicate  with  the  parish. 

That  same  evening  Deacon  Crane  tapped  at  the 
door  and  was  admitted.  Guy  was  at  home,  and  sat 
demurely  in  his  father's  study. 

"So  you've  got  home,  have  you,  Guy?"  was  his 
greeting,  preceded  by  a  cough.  uNoah  told  me  he 
saw  you  go  by  the  store." 

"Yes;  Noah  is  a  great  friend  of  mine,"  returned 
Guy,  with  a  smile.  "I  hope  he  is  well." 

"Yes;  I  am  thankful  to  say  he  is.  He's  a  good 
stiddy  boy,  Noah  is ;  he  don't  go  gadding  about  all 
over  the  world." 

"Like  me?"  suggested  Guy,  with  a  smile. 

The  deacon  coughed,  but  did  not  disclaim  the 
amendment. 

"Have  you  lost  your  place?"  he  asked. 

"Mr.  Saunders  has  given  me  a  year's  vacation," 
answered  Guy. 

"Humph!"  said  the    deacon.     "That's    rather 


298       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

hard  on  you.  You  may  find  it  difficult  to  get  a 
place  round  here." 

"I  shall  not  try  for  one.  I  am  going  to  stay  at 
home  with  father  part  of  the  time." 

"You're  pretty  young  to  retire  from  business," 
sneered  the  deacon. 

"I  shall  be  glad  to  have  Noah  call  on  me." 

"I  don't  approve  of  Noah  bein'  idle.  He's 
helpin'  me  in  the  store,  out  of  school." 

"By  the  way,  Deacon  Crane,"  said  the  minister, 
who  was  enjoying  in  his  quiet  way  the  deacon's  mis 
understanding,  "I  am  glad  you  called  in.  I  want 
to  consult  you  about  church  matters.  Guy  wants 
me  to  ask  for  a  younger  man  to  share  with  me  the 
responsibilities  of  parish  work,  as  a  colleague." 

"Mr.  Fenwick,"  said  the  deacon,  greatly  sur 
prised,  "you  must  be  aware  that  the  parish  cannot 
afford  to  pay  two  ministers.  As  it  is,  we  are 
cramped  by  our  agreement  to  pay  you  a  thousand 
dollars." 

"For  that  reason  I  propose  to  relinquish  my  own 
salary.  There  will  be  but  one  salary  to  pay." 

"But,"  said  the  deacon,  inexpressibly  surprised, 
"how  are  you  going  to  live?" 

"Perhaps  I  ought  to  mention  that  a  relative  has 
given  me  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  I  can  live 
on  the  income  arising  from  that." 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE       299 

Deacon  Crane  looked  at  the  minister  with  great 
ly  increased  respect,  for  he  set  high  value  on 
worldly  prosperity. 

"Why,  that  makes  you  a  rich  man,  Mr.  Fen- 
wick,"  he  said. 

"Indeed,  I  feel  so." 

"But  I  didn't  know  you  had  any  rich  relatives." 

"Nor  I,  till  to-day." 

"Do  you  mind  telling  me  who  has  given  you  this 
handsome  fortune?" 

"Guy,"  answered  the  minister,  briefly. 

"I  didn't  come  here  to  be  made  a  fool  of!"  said 
the  deacon,  angrily,  half  rising  in  his  chair. 

"No  one  has  tried  to  make  a  fool  of  you,"  re 
turned  Guy,  quickly.  "I  have  been  very  fortu 
nate,  and  can  well  afford  to  give  my  father  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars.  He  is  anxious  to  get  time 
to  write  a  commentary  on  the  Gospels,  and  so  I 
have  induced  him  to  ask  for  a  colleague." 

"Is  this  really  true,  Guy?" 

"You  can  rely  upon  it,  Deacon  Crane.  Father 
may  have  occasion  to  consult  you  about  the  invest 
ment  of  his  money." 

"I'll  be  very  glad  to  oblige  him,"  said  the  dea 
con,  generously.  "When  will  he  come  into  pos 
session  of  the  amount?" 

"Next  week.1' 


300       IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE 

"I  congratulate  you  heartily,  Guy,"  said  the 
deacon,  very  cordially.  "I  always  thought  you 
were  a  smart  boy." 

"I  am  sorry  you  don't  want  Noah  to  come  to 
see  me.  I  have  brought  him  a  gold  watch  from 
New  York." 

"I'll  send  him  right  over,"  said  the  deacon, 
briskly.  "He  thinks  a  sight  of  you." 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  that.  I  shall  always  be  glad 
to  do  him  a  good  turn." 

"I  guess  I  must  be  goin',"  said  the  deacon,  who 
was  anxious  to  spread  the  wonderful  news. 

"Well,  father,  did  you  see  Guy?"  asked  Noah, 
when  his  father  entered  the  store. 

"Yes,  I  did." 

"Is  he  out  of  work?" 

"He  needn't  work  any  more  as  long  as  he  lives," 
said  the  deacon,  solemnly.  "Guy's  come  home  with 
a  fortune.  He's  just  given  his  father  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars." 

Noah  listened  with  eyes  and  mouth  wide  open. 

"Do  tell,  pa !"  he  said. 

"Yes.  Guy's  an  awfully  smart  boy.  He's 
brought  home  a  gold  watch  for  you,  Noah,  and 
he'll  give  it  to  you  when  you  go  over." 

"I'll  go  right  over,  pa." 

"And  I  am  willin'  you  should  be  with  him  as 


IN  SEARCH  OF  TREASURE        301 

much  as  he  wishes.  Take  my  advice,  Noah,  and 
make  him  your  intimate  friend." 

"You  bet  I  will,  pa!" 

"Don't  use  that  expression,  Noah!  Remember 
you  are  a  deacon's  son." 

In  a  few  weeks  the  changes  already  hinted  at 
were  effected.  Mr.  Fenwick  was  provided  with  a 
colleague,  but  not  the  deacon's  relative,  and  had 
begun  work  on  his  commentary. 

At  the  end  of  a  year  Guy  entered  the  office  of 
the  New  York  correspondent  of  John  Saunders, 
whom  he  will  eventually  succeed.  He  makes  a 
good  business  man,  and  Mr.  Saunders  has  never 
had  occasion  to  regret  the  interest  he  has  taken  in 
the  young  American. 


THE  END 


BOY  AVIATORS'  SERItS 

By  Captain  Wilbur  Law*en 

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holding  the  reader's  breathless  attention  from  the  open 
ing  words  to  the  finish,  this  swift-moving  story  is  at 
the  same  time  instructive  and  uplifting.  As  those 
readers  who  have  already  made  friends  with  Frank  and 
Harry  Chester  and  theu  'bunch"  know,  there  are  few 
difficulties,  no  matter  how  insurmountable  they  may 
seem  at  first  blush,  that  these  up-to-date  gritty  youths 
cannot  overcome  with  flying  colors.  A  clean-cut,  real 
boys'  book  of  high  voltage. 


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BOY    AVIATORS'    SERIES 

BY  CAPTAIN  WILBUR  LAWTON 

Absolutely    Modern    Stories    for    Boys 

Cloth  Bound  Price  bUc  per  volume 


The    Boy    Aviators    in   Africa 

Or,  An  Aerial  Ivory  Trail 

In  this  absorbing  book  we  meet,  on  a  Continent  made 
famous  by  the  American  explorer  Stanley,  and  ex-Presi 
dent  Roosevelt,  our  old  friends,  the  Chester  Boys  and 
their  stalwart  chums.  In  Africa — the  Dark  Continent — 
the  author  follows  in  exciting  detail  his  young  heroes, 
their  voyage  in  the  first  aeroplane  to  fly  above  the  mys 
terious  forests  and  unexplored  ranges  of  the  mystic  land. 
In  this  book,  too,  for  the  first  time,  we  entertain  Luther 
Barr,  the  old  New  York  millionaire,  who  proved  later 
such  an  implacable  enemy  of  the  boys.  The  story  of  his 
defeated  schemes,  of  the  astonishing  things  the  boys  dis 
covered  in  the  Mountains  of  the  Moon,  of  the  pathetic 
fate  of  George  Desmond,  the  emulator  of  Stanley,  the 
adventure  of  the  Flying  Men  and  the  discovery  of  the 
Arabian  Ivory  cache,— this  is  not  the  place  to  speak.  It 
would  be  spoiling  the  zest  of  an  exciting  tale  to  reveal 
the  outcome  of  all  these  episodes  here.  It  may  be  said, 
however,  without  "giving  away"  any  of  the  thrilling 
chapters  of  this  narrative,  that  Captain  Wilbur  Lawton, 
the  author,  is  in  it  in  his  best  vein,  and  from  his  personal 
experiences  in  Africa  has  been  able  to  supply  a  striking 
background  for  the  adventures  of  his  young  heroes.  As 
one  newspaper  says  of  this  book:  "Here  is  adventure  in 
good  measure,  pressed  down  and  running  over." 


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BOY    AVIATORS'    SERIES 

BY  CAPTAIN  WILBUR  LAWTON 

Absolutely    Modern    Stories    for    Boya 

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The  Boy  Aviators  Treasure  Quest 

Or,  The  Golden  Galleon 

Everybody  is  a  boy  once  more  when  it  comes  to  the 
question  of  hidden  treasure.  In  this  book,  Captain  Lawton 
has  set  forth  a  hunt  for  gold  that  is  concealed  neither 
under  the  sea  nor  beneath  the  earth,  but  is  well  hidden 
for  all  that.  A  garrulous  old  sailor,  who  holds  the  key 
to  the  mystery  of  the  Golden  Galleon,  plays  a  large 
part  in  the  development  of  the  plot  of  this  fascinating 
narrative  of  treasure  hunting  in  the  region  of  the  Gulf 
Stream  and  the  Sagasso  Sea.  An  aeroplane  fitted  with  effi 
cient  pontoons— enabling  her  to  skim  the  water  success 
fully — has  long  been  a  dream  of  aviators.  The  Chester 
Boys  seem  to  have  solved  the  problem.  The  Sagasso, 
that  strange  drifting  ocean  within  an  ocean,  holding  ships 
of  a  dozen  nations  and  a  score  of  ages,  in  its  relentless 
grip,  has  been  the  subject  of  many  books  of  adventure 
and  mystery,  but  in  none  has  the  secret  of  the  ever 
shifting  mass  of  treacherous  currents  been  penetrated  as 
it  has  in  the  BOY  AVIOTORS  TREASURE  QUEST. 
Luther  Barr,  whom  it  seemed  the  boys  had  shaken  off, 
is  still  on  their  trail,  in  this  absorbing  book  and  with  a 
dirigible  balloon,  essays  to  beat  them  out  in  their  search 
for  the  Golden  Galleon.  Every  boy,  every  man — and 
woman  and  girl — who  has  ever  felt  the  stirring  summons 
of  adventure  in  their  souls,  had  better  get  hold  of  this 
book.  Once  obtained,  it  will  be  read  and  re-read  till 
it  falls  to  rags. 


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Absolutely    Modern    Stories    for    Boys 

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The  Boy  Aviators  in  Record  Flight 

Or,  The  Rival  Aeroplane 

The  Chester  Boys  in  new  field  of  endeavor — an  attempt 
to  capture  a  newspaper  prize  for  a  trans-ccBtinental  flight. 
By  the  time  these  lines  are  read,  exactly  such  an  offer 
will  have  been  spread  broadcast  by  one  of  the  foremost 
newspapers  of  the  country.  In  the  Golden  Eagle,  the 
boys,  accompanied  by  a  trail-blazing  party  in  an  auto 
mobile,  make  the  dash.  But  they  are  not  alone  in  their 
aspirations.  Their  rivals  for  the  rich  prize  at  stake  try 
in  every  way  that  they  can  to  circumvent  the  lads  and 
gain  the  valuable  trophy  and  monetary  award.  In  this 
they  stop  short  at  nothing,  and  it  takes  all  the  wits  and 
resources  of  the  Boy  Aviators  to  defeat  their  devices. 
Among  the  adventures  encountered  in  their  cross-country 
flight,  the  boys  fall  in  with  a  band  of  rollicking  cow-boys 
— who  momentarily  threaten  serious  trouble — are  attacked 
by  Indians,  strike  the  most  remarkable  town  of  the 
desert — the  "dry"  town  of  "Gow  Wells,"  encounter  a 
sandstorm  which  blows  them  into  strange  lands  far  to  the 
south  of  their  course,  and  meet  with  several  amusing 
mishaps  beside.  A  thoroughly  readable  book.  The  sort 
to  take  out  behind  the  barn  on  the  sunny  side  of  the  hay 
stack,  and,  with  a  pocketful  of  juicy  apples  and  your  heels 
kicking  the  air,  pass  happy  hours  with  Captain  Lawton's 
young  heroes. 


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BOY   AVIATORS'    SERIES 

BY  CAPTAIN  WILBUR  LAWTON 

Absolutely    Modern   Stories    for   Boys 

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The  Boy  Aviators  Polar  Dash 

Or,  Facing  Death  in  the  Antarctic 

If  you  were  to  hear  that  two  boys,  accompanying  a  South 
Polar  expedition  in  charge  of  the  aeronautic  department, 
were  to  penetrate  the  Antarctic  regions — hitherto  only 
attained  by  a  few  daring  explorers — you  would  feel  inter 
ested,  wouldn't  you?  Well,  in  Captain  Lawton's  latest 
book,  concerning  his  Boy  Aviators,  you  can  not  only  read 
absorbing  adventure  in  the  regions  south  of  the  eightieth 
parallel,  but  absorb  much  useful  information  as  well. 
Captain  Lawton  introduces — besides  the  original  charac 
ters  of  the  heroes — a  new  creation  in  the  person  of  Pro 
fessor  Simeon  Sandburr,  a  patient  seeker  for  polar  in 
sects.  The  professor's  adventures  in  his  quest  are  the 
cause  of  much  merriment,  and  lead  once  or  twice  to 
serious  predicaments.  In  a  volume  so  packed  with  incident 
and  peril  from  cover  to  cover— relieved  with  laughable 
mishaps  to  the  professor — it  is  difficult  to  single  out  any 
one  feature;  still,  a  recent  reader  of  it  wrote  the  pub 
lishers  an  enthusiastic  letter  the  other  day,  saying:  "The 
episodes  above  the  Great  Barrier  are  thrilling,  the  attack 
of  the  condors  in  Patagonia  made  me  hold  my  breath, 
the — but  what's  the  use?  The  Polar  Dash,  to  my  mind, 
is  an  even  more  entrancing  book  than  Captain  Lawton's 
previous  efforts,  and  that's  saying  a  good  deal.  The  avia 
tion  features  and  their  technical  correctness  are  by  no 
means  the  least  attractive  features  of  this  up-to-date 

creditable  volume." 

* 

«^'ji  •!!••!  m*mian*fm*mi**im»*mtimMHimmmMmmm*mm***mH**t*i^aii**t*f*M»Hiamm3: 

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Ben  Stone 
at  Oakdale 


OAKDALE    ACADEMY    SERIES 

Stories  of  Modern  School  Sport* 

By  MORGAN  SCOTT. 

Cloth  Bound.  Illustrated.  Price,  60c.  per  vol.,  postpaid 
BEN  STONE  AT  OAKDALE. 

Under  peculiarly  trying  circum 
stances  Ben  Stone  wins  his  way  at 
Oakdale  Academy,  and  at  the 
same  time  enlists  our  sympathy, 
interest  and  respect.  Through  the, 
enmity  of  Bern  Hayden,  the  loyalty- 
of  Roger  Eliot  and  the  clever  work; 
of  the  "Sleuth,"  Ben  is  falsely  ac-i 
cused,  championed  and  vindicated. 

BOYS  OF  OAKDALE 

ACADEMY. 

"One  thing  1  will  claim,  and  that 
is  that  all  Grants  fight  open  and 
square  and  there  never  was  a  sneak  among  them."  It  was 
Rodney  Grant,  of  Texas,  who  made  the  claim  to  his  friend, 
Ben  Stone,  and  this  story  shows  how  he  proved  the  truth 
of  this  statement  in  the  face  of  apparent  evidence  to  the 
contrary. 

RIVAL  PITCHERS  OF  OAKDALE. 

Baseball  is  the  main  theme  of  this  interesting  narrative, 
and  that  means  not  only  clear  and  clever  descriptions  of 
thrilling  games,  but  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the 
members  of  the  teams  who  played  them.  The  Oakdale 
Boys  were  ambitious  and  loyal,  and  some  were  even  dis 
gruntled  and  jealous,  but  earnest,  persistent  work  won  out. 

OAKDALE  BGYS  IN  CAMP. 

The  typical  vacation  is  the  one  that  means  much  free- 
(dom,  little  restriction,  and  immediate  contact  with  "all  out 
doors."  These  conditions  prevailed  in  the  summer  camp  of 
the  Oakdale  Boys  and  made  it  a  scene  of  lively  interest. 

THE  GREAT  OAKDALE  MYSTERY. 

The  "Sleuth"  scents  a  mystery!  He  "follows  his  nose." 
The  plot  thickens!  He  makes  deductions.  There  are 
surprises  for  the  reader — and  for  the  "Sleuth,"  as  well. 

NEW  BOYS  AT  OAKDALE. 

A  new  element  creeps  into  Oakdale  with  another  year's 
registration  of  students.     The  old  and  the  new  standards 
of  conduct  in  and  out  of  school  meet,  battle,  and  cause 
sweeping  changes  in  the  lives  of  several  of  the  boys. 
Any  volume  sent  postpaid  upon  receipt  of  price. 

&  COMPANY    -    Publishers    -    NEW  YOKK 


BORDER-BOYS 
ON-THETRA1L 


BORDER    BOYS   SERIES 

Mexican  and  Canadian  Frontier  Series 

By  FREMONT  B.  DEERING. 
(Sloth  Bound.    Illustrated.    Price,  50c.  per  vol.,  postpaid 

THE  BORDER  BOYS 

ON  THE  TRAlLr 

What  it  meant  to  make  an  enemy 
of  Black  Ramon  De  Barios — that  is 
the  problem  that  Jack  Merrill  and 
his  friends,  including  Coyote  Pete, 
face  in  this  exciting  tale. 

THE  BORDER  BOYS 

ACROSS  THE  FRONTIER. 

Read  of  the  Haunted  Mesa  and  its 
mysteries,  of  the  Subterranean  River 
and  its  strange  uses,  of  the  value  of 
gasolene  and  steam  "in  running  the  gauntlet,"  and  you  will 
feel  that  not  even  the  ancient  splendors  of  the  Old  World 
can  furnish  a  better  setting  for  romantic  action  than  the 
Border  of  the  New. 

THE  BORDER  BOYS  WITH  THE  MEXICAN 
RANGERS. 

As  every  day  is  making  history — faster,  it  is  said,  than 
ever  before — so  books  that  keep  pace  with  the  changes 
are  full  of  rapid  action  and  accurate  facts.  This  book 
deals  with  lively  times  on  the  Mexican  border. 

THE  BORDER  BOYS  WITH  THE  TEXAS 
RANGERS. 

The  Border  Boys  have  already  had  much  excitement 
Vid  adventure  in  their  lives,  but  all  this  has  served  to 
-prepare  them  for  the  experiences  related  in  this  volume. 
They  are  stronger,  braver  and  more  resourceful  than  ever, 
and  the  exigencies  of  their  life  in  connection  with  the 
Texas  Rangers  demand  all  their  trained  ability. 

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HURST  &  COMPANY    -    Publishers    -    NEW  YORK 


THE  BO 
INVENTO 
WIREL 

TRIU 

"      ICHAROBCWmtR 


BOY  INVENTORS  SERIES 

Stories  of  Skill  and  Ingenuity 

By  RICHARD  BONNER 
Cloth  Bound.    Illustrated.    Price,  50c.  per  vol.,  postpauj 

VHE  BOY  INVENTORS' 

WIRELESS  TELEGRAPH. 

Blest  with  natural  curiosity,—* 
sometimes  called  the  instinct  of  in 
vestigation, — favored  with  golden 
opportunity,  and  gifted  with  crea 
tive  ability,  the  Boy  Inventors 
meet  emergencies  and  contrive 
mechanical  wonders  that  interest 
and  convince  the  reader  because 
they  always  "work"  when  put  to 
the  test. 

THE  BOY  INVENTORS'  VANISHING  GUN. 

A  thought,  a  belief,  an  experiment;  discouragement* 
hope,  effort  and  final  success — this  is  the  history  of  many 
an  invention;  a  history  in  which  excitement,  competition, 
danger,  despair  and  persistence  figure.  This  merely  sug 
gests  the  circumstances  which  draw  the  daring  Boy  In 
ventors  into  strange  experiences  and  startling  adventures, 
and  which  demonstrate  the  practical  use  of  their  vanish 
ing  gun. 

THE  BOY  INVENTORS'  DIVING  TORPEDO  BOAT. 

As  in  the  previous  stories  of  the  Boy  Inventors,  new 
and  interesting  triumphs  of  mechanism  are  produced 
which  become  immediately  valuable,  and  the  stage  for 
their  proving  and  testing  is  again  the  water.  On  the 
jsurface  and  below  it,  the  boys  have  jolly,  contagious  fun, 
and  the  story  of  their  serious,  purposeful  inventions 
challenge  the  reader's  deepest  attention. 

Any  volume  sent  postpaid  upon  receipt  of  price. 
OTBST  &  COMPANY    -    Publishers   -    NEW  YOBS* 


[BUNGALOW 
^^u,  BOYS 

I  DEXTER  J  FORRESTER 


BUNGALOW  BOYS  SERIES 

LIVE  STORIES  OF  OUTDOOR   LIFE 

By  DEXTER  J.  FORRESTER. 

Cloth  Bound.   Illustrated.    Price,  50c.  per  vol.,  postpaid 

THE    BUNGALOW    BOYS. 

How  the  Bungalow  Boys  received 
their  title  and  how  they  retained  the 
right  to  it  in  spite  of  much  opposition 
makes  a  lively  narrative  for  lively  boys. 

THE  BUNGALOW  BOYS  MA 
ROONED  IN  THE  TROPICS. 

A  real  treasure  hunt  of  the  most 
thrilling  kind,  with  a  sunken  Span 
ish  galleon  as  its  object,  makes  a 
subject  of  intense  interest  at  any 
time,  but  add  to  that  a  band  of  desperate  men,  a  dark  plot 
and  a  devil  fish,  and  you  have  the  combination  that  brings 
strange  adventures  into  the  lives  of  the  Bungalow  Boys. 

THE  BUNGALOW  BOYS  IN  THE  GREAT  NORTH 
WEST. 

The  clever  assistance  of  a  young  detective  saves  the  boys 
from  the  clutches  of  Chinese  smugglers,  of  whose  nefarious 
trade  they  know  too  much.  How  the  Professor's  invention  re 
lieves  a  critical  situation  is  also  an  exciting  incident  of  this  book,  i, 

THE  BUNGALOW  BOYS  ON  THE  GREAT  LAKES. 

The  Bungalow  Boys  start  out  for  a  quiet  cruise  on  the 
Great  Lakes  ana  a  visit  to  an  island.  A  storm  and  a  band 
.of  wreckers  interfere  with  the  serenity  of  their  trip,  and  a 
/submarine  adds  zest  and  adventure  to  it. 

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HTTRST  &  COMPANY    -    Publishers    -    NEW  YORK 


DREADNOUGHT  BOYS  SERIES 

Tales  of  the  New  Navy 

By  CAPT.  WILBUR  LAWTON 

Author  of  "BOY  AVIATORS  SERIES." 

Cloth  Bound.   Illustrated.   Price,  50c.  per  vol.,  postpaid 

THE  DREADNOUGHT  BOYS 
ON  BATTLE  PRACTICE. 

Especially  interesting  and  timely 
is  this  book  which  introduces  the 
reader  with  its  heroes,  Ned  and  Here, 
to  the  great  ships  of  modern  warfare 
and  to  the  intimate  life  and  surprising 
adventures  of  Uncle  Sam's  sailors. 

THE    DREADNOUGHT    BOYS 
ABOARD  A   DESTROYER. 

In  this  story  real  dangers  threaten 
and  the  boys'  patriotism  is  tested  in 

a  peculiar  international  tangle.     The  scene  is  laid  on  the 
South  American  coast. 

THE  DREADNOUGHT  BOYS  ON  A  SUBMARINE. 

To  the  inventive  genius — trade-school  boy  or  mechanic— 
this  story  has  special  charm,  perhaps,  but  to  every  reader  its 
mystery  and  clever  action  are  fascinating. 

THE  DREADNOUGHT  BOYS  ON  AERO  SERVICE. 

Among  the  volunteers  accepted  for  Areo  Service  are  Ned 
and  Here.  Their  perilous  adventures  are  not  confined  to  the 
air,  however,  although  they  make  daring  and  notable  flights 
in  the  name  of  the  Government;  nor  are  they  always  able 
to  fly  beyond  the  reach  of  their  old  "enemies,"  who  are  also 
airmen. 

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FRANK  ARMSTRONG  SERIES 

Twentieth  Century  Athletic  Stories 

By  MATHEW  M.  COLTON. 
Cloth  Bound.  Illustrated.  Price,  60c.  per  vol.,  postpait 

FRANK  ARMSTRONG'S 

VACATION. 

How  Frank's  summer  experM 
ence  with  his  boy  friends  make? 
him  into  a  sturdy  young  athlete 
through  swimming,  boating,  and 
baseball  contests,  and  a  tramp 
through  the  Everglades,  is  the 
subject  of  this  splendid  story. 

FRANK  ARMSTRONG 

AT  QUEENS. 

We  find  among  the  jolly  boys 
at  Queen's  School,  Frank,  the  student-athlete,  Jimmy,  the 
baseball  enthusiast,  and  Lewis,  the  unconsciously-funny 
youth  who  furnishes  comedy  for  every  page  that  bears 
his  name.  Fall  and  winter  sports  between  intensely  rival 
school  teams  are  expertly  described. 

FRANK  ARMSTRONG'S  SECOND  TERM. 

The  gymnasium,  the  track  and  the  field  make  the  6acE« 
ground  for  the  stirring  events  of  this  volume,  in  which 
David,  Jimmy,  Lewis,  the  "Wee  One"  and  the  "Codfish" 
figure,  while  Frank  "saves  th~  day." 

FRANK  ARMSTRONG,  DROP  KICKER. 

With  the  same  persistent  determination  that^  won  him 
success  in  swimming,  running  and  baseball  playing,  Frank 
Armstrong  acquired  the  art  of  "drop  kicking,"  and  the 
Queen's  football  team  profits  thereby. 

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BOY  SCOUT  SERIES 

BY 

LIEUT.  HOWARD  PAYSON 
MODERN  BOY  SCOUT  STORIES  FOR  BOYS 
Cloth  Bound        Price,  50/  per  volume. 


The  Boy  Scouts  of  the  Eagle  PatroL 

A  fascinating  narrative  of  the  doings  of  some 
bright  boys  who  become  part  of  the  great  Boy 
Seout  movement.  The  first  of  a  series  dealing 
with  this  organization,  which  has  caught  on  like 
wild  fire  among  healthy  boys  of  all  ages  and  in 
all  parts  of  the  country. 

While  in  no  sense  a  text-book,  the  volume 
deals,  amid  its  exciting  adventures,  with  the 
practical  side  of  Scouting.  To  Rob  Blake  and 
his  companions  in  the  Eagle  Patrol,  surprising, 
and  sometimes  perilous  things  happen  constant 
ly.  But  the  lads,  who  are,  after  all,  typical 
of  most  young  Americans  of  their  type,  are 
resourceful  enough  to  overcome  every  one  of 
their  dangers  and  difficulties, 

How  they  discover  the  whereabouts  of  little 
Joe,  the  "kid"  of  the  patrol,  by  means  of  smoke 
telegraphy  and  track  his  abductors  to  their  dis 
grace;  how  they  assist  the  passengers  of  a  stran 
ded  steamer  and  foil  a  plot  to  harm  and  perhaps 
kill  an  aged  sea-captain,  one  must  read  the  book 
to  learn.  A  swift-moving  narrative  of  convin 
cing  interest  and  breathless  incident, 


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BOY  SCOUT  SERIES 

BY 

LIEUT.  HOWARD  PAYSON 
MODERN  BOY  SCOUT  STORIES  FOR  BOYS 
Cloth  Bound,  Price  50/  per  volume. 


The  Boy  Scouts  on  the  Range. 

Connected  with  the  dwellings  of  the  van 
ished  race  of  cliff-dwellers  was  a  mystery.  Who 
so  fit  to  solve  it  as  a  band  of  adventurous  Boy 
Scouts?  The  solving  of  the  secret  and  the  routing 
of  a  bold  band  of  cattle  thieves  involved  Rob 
Blake  and  his  chums,  including  "Tubby"  Hop 
kins,  in  grave  difficulties. 

There  are  few  boys  who  have  not  read  of 
the  weird  snake  dance  and  other  tribal  rites  of 
Moquis.  In  this  volume,  the  habits  of  these  fast 
vanishing  Indians  are  explained  in  interesting 
detail.  Few  boys'  books  hold  more  thrilling 
chapters  than  those  concerning  Rob's  captivity 
among  the  Moquis. 

Through  the  fascinating  pages  of  the  nar 
rative  also  stalks,  like  a  grim  figure  of  impending 
tragedy,  the  shaggy  form  of  Silver  Tip,  the  giant 
grizzly.  In  modern  juvenile  writing,  there  is 
little  to  be  found  as  gripping  as  the  scene  in 
which  Rob  and  Silver  Tip  meet  face  to  face* 
The  boy  is  weaponless  and, — but  it  would  not 
be  fair  to  divulge  the  termination  of  the  battle. 
A  book  which  all  Boy  Scouts  should  secure  and 
place  upon  their  shelves  to  be  read  and  re-read. 


Sold  by  Booksellers  Everywhere. 

Hurst  &  Co.,      Publishers      New  York 


Log  Cabin  to  Whits 
House  Series 

A  famous  series  of  books, 
formerly  sold  at  $2.00  per 
copy,  are  now  popularized 
by  reducing  the  price  less 
than  half.  The  lives  of  these 
famous  Americans  are  worthy 
of  a  place  in  any  library.  A 
new  book  by  Edward  S.  Ellis 
— "From  Ranch  to  White  House" — is  a  life  of 
Theodore  Roosevelt,  while  the  author  of  the 
others,  William  M.  Thayer,  is  a  celebrated 
biographer. 

FROM  RANCH  TO  WHITE  HOUSE  ;  Life  of  Theodore  Roosevelt. 
FROM  BOYHOOD  TO  MANHOOD ;  Life  of  Benjamin  Franklin. 
FROM  FARM  HOUSE  TO  WHITE  HOUSE;  Life  of  George 

Washington. 
FROM    LOG   CABIN  TO    WHITE    HOUSE;  Life  of  James  A. 

Garfield. 
FROM  PIONEER  HOME  TO  WHITE  HOUSE;  Life  of  Abraham 

Lincoln. 

FROM  TANNERY  TO  WHITE  HOUSE  ;  Life  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 
SUCCESS  AND  ITS  ACHIEVERS. 
TACT,  PUSH  AND  PRINCIPLE. 

These  titles,  though  by  different  authors,  also 
belong  to  this  series  of  books: 

FROM  COTTAGE  TO  CASTLE ;  The  Story  of  Gutenberg,  Invent 

or  of  Printing.    By  Mrs.  E.  C.  Pearson. 
CAPITAL  FOR  WORKING  BOYS.    By  Mrs.  julia  E.  M'Conaughy. 

Price,  postpaid,   for  any  of  the  above  ten 
books,  75c. 

A  complete  catalogue  sent  for  the  asking. 

HURST  &  CO.      Publishers,      NEW  YORK 


Oliver  Optic 

BooKs 


Pew  boys  are  alive  to-day 
who  have  not  read  some  of 
the  writings  of  this  famous 
author,  whose  books  are 
scattered  broadcast  and 
eagerly  sought  for.  Oliver 
Optic  has  the  faculty  of  writing  books  full  of 
dash  and  energy,  such  as  healthy  boys  want 
and  need. 


ALL  ABOARD;  or,  Life  on  the  Lake. 
BOAT  CLUB;  or,  The  Bunkers  of  Rippleton. 
BRAVE  OLD  SALT;  or,  1  ife  on  the  Quarter  Deck. 
DO  SOMETHINGS;  a  Story  for  Little  Polks. 
FIGHTING  JOE;  or,  The  Fortunes  of  a  Staff  Officer. 
IN  SCHOOL  AND  OUT;  or,  The  Conquest  of  Richard 

Grant. 

LITTLE  BY  LITTLE;  or,  The  Cruise  of  the  Flyaway. 
LITTLE  MERCHANT;  a  Story  for  Little  Folks. 
NOW  OR  NEVER;  or,  The  Adventures  of  Bobby  Bright. 
POOR  AND  PROUD;  or,  The  Fortunes  of  Katie  Ked- 

burn. 

PROUD  AND  LAZY;  a  Story  for  Little  Folks. 
RICH  AND  HUMBLE;  or  The  Mission  of  Bertha  Grant. 
SAILOR  BOY ;  or,  Jack  Soraers  in  the  Navy. 
SOLDIER  BOY;  or,  Tom  Somers  in  the  Army. 
TRY  AGAIN;  or,  The  Trials  and  Triumphs  of  Harry 

West. 

WATCH  AND  WAIT;  or,  The  Young  Fugitives. 
WORK  AND  WIN;  or,  Noddy  Newman  on  a  Cruise. 
THE  YANKEE  MIDDY;  or,  The  Adventures  of  a  Naval 

Officer. 
YOUNG   LIEUTENANT;  or,   The   Adventures   of  an 

Army  Officer. 


Any  of  these   books  will   be    mailed,    postpaid, 
upoii  receipt  of  5Oc. 

-  «t  our  complete  catalogue— sent  anywhere. 

HURST  &  CO.,        Publishers,        NEW  YORK 


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